More details have surfaced surrounding the night of Jos├â┬⌐ Fern├â┬índez‘s fatal boat accident.
The Miami Marlins pitcher was reportedly upset after having an argument with his girlfriend — who is pregnant with their first child — so, he asked two friends to join him for an ill-fated boating joyride.
Eddy Rivero and Emilio Macias were killed along with the 24-year-old when Fernandez’s 32-foot fishing boat crashed into a jetty early Sunday morning.
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According to The Miami Herald, the friends joined the athlete only after his Marlins teammates turned down the offer to go on the late night cruise.
Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna told the publication:
“That night I told him, ├óΓé¼╦£Don’t go out.’ Everybody knew he was crazy about that boat and loved being out on the water. I told him I couldn’t go out that night because I had the kids and my wife waiting for me├óΓé¼┬ª He told me if I didn’t hear from him by 10 a.m. (Sunday) to call him and wake him up so he could get back to the ballpark on time for the game. I told him, ├óΓé¼╦£yeah no problem, I’ll call you.’ I woke up Sunday and that’s when I found out. I cried and cried.”
Wow. It’s hard to believe that this tragedy could have been even worse if more people agreed to join.
Instead, Fern├â┬índez contacted Rivero sometime after the Marlins’ game ended (at around 10:30 p.m.) to join him on the boat, and the two then picked up Macias before heading to American Social bar to let loose.
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The trio then left the bar at around 2 a.m. and went back out on Fernandez’s boat, 90 minutes before the coast guard discovered the wreckage.
Will Bernal, a close friend of Rivero’s, was texting Rivero after midnight, urging the 27-year-old to get off the boat and “keep Jose cool” amid his spat with his girlfriend.
On Monday, Bernal shared the final text exchange on his Instagram:
We have no words. Our hearts go out to the loved ones of Fernandez, Rivero, and Macias during this difficult time.
[Image via Instagram.]