Relatives of América Yamilet Sánchez, a Mexican Navy cadet who was killed when the training ship Cuauhtémoc collided with the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, gathered at her home in Xalapa, Veracruz, on Sunday (May 18) to mourn her.

Sánchez, 21, died on Saturday (May 17) when the collision sheared off the top of the ship's masts during departure maneuvers en route to Iceland.

The accident left 22 injured and two dead, including the young cadet.

Her mother, Rocio Hernandez, said she had spoken to the U.S. coroner regarding repatriation of the body.

The Mexican Navy confirmed that it will be transported to Mexico in the coming days. The family has requested institutional support and a transparent investigation into the causes of the incident.

Sánchez was in her final year as a naval cadet and was part of the international training cruise "Consolidation of Mexico's Independence 2025," which was scheduled to visit 15 countries. She was considered an outstanding student and had dreamed of becoming a naval systems engineer.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES:

XALAPA, VERACRUZ, MEXICO (MAY 18, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF PORTRAIT OF AMÉRICA YAMILET SÁNCHEZ WITH FLOWERS AND CANDLES IN HER HOME

2. CANDLES

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ROCIO HERNÁNDEZ, MOTHER OF AMERICA, SAYING:

"The U.S. coroner already told me that yes, everything is ready, and the school has to move (the body), and I'm waiting for that."

4. RELATIVES AND FRIENDS PRAYING FOR AMERICA

5. VARIOUS OF RELATIVES CRYING, ONE HOLDING AMERCA'S PORTRAIT

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GAEL DE LA CRUZ, RELATIVE OF AMERICA, SAYING:

"It's impossible for something so serious to not be thoroughly investigated. Twitter and Facebook are full of comments. It's illogical. What happened there is illogical. There must be someone responsible."

7. VARIOUS OF RELATIVES AND FRIENDS CRYING

8. RELATIVES AND FRIENDS AT GATHERING

9. RELATIVES AND FRIENDS TALKING TO AMERICA'S MOTHER ON THE PHONE

10. AMERICA'S MOTHER ON THE PHONE

11. RELATIVE CRYING

12. PORTRAIT OF SÁNCHEZ WITH LIT CANDLES