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The sudden loss of Claudia Balmaseda Orellanes, a 33-year-old Cuban who passed away last Saturday in a boating accident in Biscayne Bay, has left those who knew her in Miami in shock, particularly her roommate, who today is trying to come to terms with a tragedy she describes as incomprehensible.
“I miss her so much... I can't sleep well. It affected me deeply. So young. How could she leave so quickly, in just one day? So young? She was a good person, a really good person,” Mayra Echevarría expressed to Telemundo 51 through tears, having spent the last two years with the victim.
A workout that fizzled out in seconds
Claudia had emigrated from Cuba just three years ago in search of a better life. According to her friend's testimony, she led a life marked by discipline and hard work.
“He woke up every morning at seven, drove to work, and returned at 4:30 every day. He was a hardworking, responsible person,” Echevarría recalled.
She worked as an insurance agent and, according to those who knew her, maintained a stable, simple routine focused on moving forward. Her daily presence, even in the small gestures, has left a void that is difficult to fill.
"I miss her a lot because she was always with her dog and always said 'good morning.' I miss her a lot in the mornings. I would see her at the door. I miss Claudia," said her companion, still in shock.
"I am always thinking about her... I never thought this could happen to someone like her," he added.
The accident: A runaway boat
The tragic event occurred around 10:40 AM on Saturday, March 29, in waters near West Point, north of Nixon Beach Sandbar and close to the Crandon Park marina in Miami.
Claudia was traveling as a passenger on a 27-foot vessel operated by Neil D. Schwabe, 54, when, for reasons still under investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), both were thrown into the water.
The vessel, without anyone on board, continued moving out of control and began to spin in circles, colliding with the two people floating in the water.
A video released later shows the scene: the boat spinning out of control while the victims remained in the water.
It was a man on a jet ski who managed to locate them, while the Miami-Dade firefighters were able to stop the boat by throwing a rope into the propellers.
Claudia was found deceased. Schwabe, for his part, sustained a leg injury and was airlifted to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Ongoing investigation and growing concern
Authorities have not yet determined what caused both occupants to be thrown from the vessel. The FWC is continuing the investigation as the exact circumstances of the accident are being analyzed.
The case has rekindled concerns about safety in the waters of Miami. This marks the second deadly boating incident in just a few days in Biscayne Bay, following another accident in Miami Beach that resulted in one fatality and one injury.
In light of this situation, the authorities have emphasized the importance of adopting basic safety measures before heading out to sea, such as wearing life jackets, having a navigation plan, and keeping communication channels open for emergencies.
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