In May 2, 2024, Ella Adler, a 15-year-old high school freshman and aspiring ballerina, was killed in a boating accident while wakeboarding in Key Biscayne, Florida. The incident occurred when she and a friend were towed by a boat operated by Edmund Hartley, 31, who was part of a group of over a dozen people on the water. As they engaged in wakeboarding, the young girls were reportedly thrown into the water at different points, according to official sources. A second boat, described as a center console with blue paint and multiple outboard engines, struck Adler while she was in the water, before speeding away, leaving her severely injured. The event has raised significant questions about water safety protocols, boat regulations, and the responsibilities of boaters.
Authorities have since filed misdemeanor charges against two Florida men—Carlos