Michael Schwartz/for New York Daily News Robinson and Eva Villa, parents of Erickson Villa, cry Monday while looking at the Bronx River at the Pier in Starlight Park, where their son and his cousin Wellington Gavin drowned Friday. The grieving parents of two cousins who drowned Friday in Riverside Park in the Bronx are demanding the city erect a fence to prevent more tragedies.
The parents of Erickson Villa and Wellington Gavin, both 13, made their request during a press conference Monday on the floating pier in Starlight Park, from which their sons jumped into the Bronx River.
“We’re asking that the park be off limits or closed until the fence is put in,” said Erickson’s father, Robinson.
Erickson’s mother, Eva, added, “The gate won’t get my son back, but it will stop another mother from losing hers.”
The families noted that in 2010 two teens drowned while taking a dip in nearby River Park.
“Please put a gate around this river or close the park,” Eva Villa said. “What are you going to wait for?”
Michael Schwartz/for New York Daily News Wendy Villa, mother of drowned 13-year-old Wellington Gavin, collapses and is held by family and friends Monday at the scene where her son and his cousin Erickson Villa died. Wellington’s mother, Wendy Villa, was also on hand but too distraught to speak.
The parents also insisted their sons knew how to swim, contradicting earlier reports.
Erickson and Wellington drowned after diving into the river and getting caught in a strong current.
The park near 173rd St. has signs prohibiting swimming.
City Parks officials would not commit on erecting a fence, but said in a statement that they were “currently examining additional measures to ensure that our facilities remain as safe as possible to the public.”
Michael Schwartz/for New York Daily News The 13-year-old Bronx cousins knew how to swim, their parents said, despite earlier reports to the contrary. A source said the city is considering installing additional signs forbidding swimming at the park and physical barriers such as a gate to discourage access to the river.
The heartbroken parents were joined by their sons’ classmates from Herman Ridder Intermediate School who left a makeshift shrine at the pier.
“My son will always be my baby,” Eva Villa said. “I wish it was me instead of my son.”
The parents also announced that a funeral for both boys will be held 3 p.m. Friday at Bridges Community Church on E. 174th St. in the Bronx.
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