KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — Boating can be a lot of fun, especially on the Fourth of July weekend, but it can also be dangerous.
Grieving father Andres Fernandez ― whose 17-year-old daughter, Lucy, was killed during a boating accident that led to a trial for now-acquitted real estate mogul George Pino ― spoke about the importance of boating safety during a press conference on Thursday.
“We want them to just recognize that it is a beautiful thing to do with friends and family, but they need to realize that there is danger, and that at a moment’s notice something could happen,” said Fernandez.
Fernandez played a major role in a comprehensive boating safety task force after his daughter’s death on Labor Day weekend in 2022.
The goal is to make having fun on the water a safer experience for all involved.
Fernandez said despite the passing of time, the hole in your heart doesn’t close.
“We never thought that this could happen to us and, you know, it’s living proof that it can,” said Fernandez. “We’re just so blessed that I get to say her name every day, and I love that.”
Some tips Fernandez listed were not drinking alcohol if you’re the captain and making sure there are life jackets for everyone on board.
Fernandez was also a driving voice in the passing of Lucy’s Law, which was signed into law in June 2025, which increases penalties for people who are reckless while operating a vessel on the water.
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