Woman and baby are dead after boat capsizes near Statue of Liberty

A woman and a 5-month-old baby died after a boat capsized near Liberty Island in the New York Harbor Saturday night.

Neither the 27-year-old woman nor the infant were identified by officials. The New York City Police Department said both were taken to NYU Langone Health Brooklyn in critical condition and later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Twelve other people were rescued and taken to area hospitals with minor injuries, according to the FDNY.

Officials have not released details about the boat or its operator. The Coast Guard confirmed to NBC News on Sunday morning that the vessel was towed to shore and remains in police custody.

Police said an investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have been made.

Liberty Island, on the New Jersey side of the New York Harbor, is home to the Statue of Liberty, the iconic sculpture gifted to the United States by France as symbol of the alliance between the two nations. The statue has lived on the island since its dedication in 1886 by former president Grover Cleveland.

The island is a popular tourist destination, drawing visitors who climb to Lady Liberty’s crown for sweeping harbor views. Others opt for boat tours to take in the statue from the water.