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“If mom could be here to thank you all and to give hugs and special thanks to everyone, she would,” Herman Larotta, a family friend, said.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The body of 3-year-old Victoria Marin was recovered Monday evening near a construction site along the St. Johns River, marking the end of a 10-day search following a tragic boating accident.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials confirmed the discovery near the Talleyrand area around 5 p.m.
Construction crews working near the shoreline spotted the body and notified authorities.
Victoria was one of four victims who died after an 18-foot vessel capsized near Goat Island on March 21.
Four others onboard were rescued. Among those lost were Victoria’s father, brother and grandmother.
“It’s a bittersweet taste for all of us,” said Herman Larotta, a family friend who assisted in the search efforts. “The family now has some closure. Where there’s a will there’s a way.”
A mom is now left without her children and husband.
“She’s not 100%, but if she could be here to thank you all and to give hugs and special thanks to everyone, she would,” Larotta said.
The accident has brought the Jacksonville community together. Volunteers, including strangers like Julio Gonzalez, joined the search efforts despite challenging conditions.
“I was risking my life out there—sinking in mud and not knowing what animals might be around,” Gonzalez said. “I felt called to help because I nearly lost my own son when he was three years old. I can’t imagine what this family is going through.”
As the search concluded, a vibrant sunset painted the St. Johns River—a reminder of why Victoria’s family had come to the area that day: to capture its beauty in photographs.
“I think it’s a sign from God saying, ‘I’m here for you; you’re not alone,’” Gonzalez said.
FWC officials stated that the investigation into the accident remains active and additional details will be released as they become available.