Friends, coworkers support grieving father after wife and daughter killed in boat disaster
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Friends, family and coworkers are trying to support the husband and father of the two victims of the deadly speedboat disaster in the New York Harbor over the weekend.
Sara Sanchez and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia, died after the 22-foot boat overturned late Saturday near the Statue of Liberty.
Andres Garcia, 29, is now left to pick up the pieces after his wife and baby daughter were killed.
It was a rare night out for the young couple that ended in tragedy. They were part of a group celebrating a friend's surprise 41st birthday.
His colleagues say he's in shock. Now they hope the community will come together to help the man who has helped so many others.
"He told me how blessed he felt to have such a wife...he was so happy, he was so happy," said Antonio Russell, the general manager of Il Punto.
Twelve people were rescued from the water after the boat capsized Saturday night, but Garcia's wife and their daughter did not survive.
Their 6-year-old son was not on the boat.
Garcia, who is originally from Colombia, worked, among other places, at the Marco Hotel near LaGuardia Airport where his colleagues are raising money for him.
"Andrés was a hard worker. He was a good colleague. He would do anything for you if you need to pick up an extra shifts, he would do it, take the shirt off his back," said Marco Hotel assistant manager Santina Wiggins.
Garcia didn't pick up an extra shift Saturday night though, his manager at the Il Punto restaurant in Hell's Kitchen said. He was looking forward to going out on a boat with friends.
"And I was so happy for him because he never had anything planned, and he posted a story on his WhatsApp showing the view from the boat, and we all saw it," Russel said. "We were all surprised that he could actually enjoy a minute of his life, because this guy has been providing for his family here, but also for his family in Colombia."
The boat operator, 46-year-old Manuel Hernandez, was arrested and taken into federal custody.
He is being charged with negligence and misconduct as a ship captain resulting in death.
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