A crew member who witnessed the death of banking billionaire Juan Carlos Escote Alviares in a boating accident off the Florida Keys told exclusively: “One minute everything was fine, and then disaster struck.”
Troy Hall was one of six people aboard the 60-foot sport fishing boat Otoro last Saturday when Alviarez, 31, jumped into the ocean to rescue Andrea Montero, who fell overboard six miles from the coastline.
The son of a Spanish-Venezuelan billionaire was immediately hit by a 36-inch razor-sharp boat propeller and died from his injuries.
His fiancée, 30-year-old Montero, managed to dodge the blades and avoid serious injury before being safely pulled out of the water.
Hall vehemently denied earlier reports that Montero was thrown overboard after being accidentally brushed against by the boat skipper, who reports was the overexperienced Scott Leon, 51.
Juan Carlos Escotet Alviarez died trying to save his fiancée Andrea Montero after she fell overboard from the fishing boat Otoro in Key Largo, Florida on Saturday. Above, Alviares (centre in a navy blue shirt) with Montero, 30 (centre) and some crew members.
The couple, who were due to marry in November, were participating in a fishing tournament organized by the closed community Ocean Reef Club when the tragedy struck.
can reveal that super-experienced skipper Scott Leon, 51 (pictured), was at the helm when Montero went down and “not even close” to her, as earlier reports claimed.
“Scotty was the captain and he wasn’t with Ms. Montero when she left,” Miami-based Hall said.
“He was in the cockpit and she was in the stern. Reports that he knocked her down are completely wrong.
“I don’t know exactly how she ended up overboard,” Hall shrugged and added, “But she was a little woman holding on to a line. The chop was not particularly bad, about three feet. Nothing special.’
“This is a catastrophe. I really don’t want to talk anymore.
However, a few hours earlier, Hall had shared photos of the crew on board the vessel in an Instagram post with the caption: “Still can’t figure out what happened there this week (sic)”.
Alviarez was taking part in a fishing competition six miles off the coast of Key Largo when the high spirits suddenly turned to horror on Saturday.
Former chef Hall, who describes himself as “a future angler captain,” continued: “It’s hard to imagine that you can walk away from being the happiest person by winning the reef cup, good humor, good humor, storytelling, fun, laughter, hard work . all day, doing everything at the expense too.
Troy Hall, a crew member on board the vessel, told that it is still unclear how Montero fell overboard.
A few hours earlier on Tuesday, Hall shared photos of the crew on board the ship in an Instagram post with the caption: “Still can’t figure out what happened there this week (sic)”.
“In a matter of seconds, it will all be gone. What some of us crew members have seen really makes you appreciate life and the loved ones who are always there for you.”
And he added: “Life (sic) is short and anything can happen anywhere and anytime. I really appreciate everyone who contacted me, the team we had and the family as we are all devastated by the life that was soon taken away.
“The fishing community is small but we all stick together, thanks for the support of the people I have met along the way and the people I will meet in the future, with much love to all, stay safe!”
Angela Oraa, who according to Instagram is Montero’s girlfriend, said she fell into the water “after a random trip.”
Skipper Scott Leon was the regular captain of the Otoro, which, according to some records, was owned by Alviares.
The captain, who for many years was the editor of Fly Fishing in Salt Waters magazine, led the Miami-based Rock Star team to win the $100,000 grand prize at the 2008 Florida Keys World Sailing Championship.
He and Alviarez were part of Otoro’s fishing team, along with Montero and fellow skipper Mike Mills, 34, who was also on the boat when the tragedy struck.
Hall said he wasn’t entirely sure how Montero fell, as “the chop wasn’t particularly bad,” but admits that “she was a little woman holding on to a line.” In the photo above, Alviares and crew members are fishing on a boat.
Montero (left) reportedly has no memory of falling from a fishing boat into the ocean on Saturday. Officially, she hit her head. Her fiancé, Juan Carlos Escotet Alviarez (right), jumped into the water to save her and was mauled by a 36-inch razor-sharp propeller. He died from his injuries
According to the FWC report, Alviarez was swept away by the engine of a 60-foot ship about six miles off the coast of Key Largo. Based on the size of the boat, experts say the propeller was probably 36 inches in diameter.
The sixth person on board on Saturday was Leonardo Lombera Jr., 34, who also owns a boat charter company.
Alviarez and Montero, who were due to be married in November, participated in a fishing tournament organized by the closed community Ocean Reef Club.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials said Montero hit her head, but it’s not clear if it happened during her fall or when the boat’s crew pulled her back with a swim ring. She reportedly has no memory of the accident.
“As hard as it was, she couldn’t tell if it was when she approached or returned. She doesn’t remember when it happened,” FWC spokesman Jason Rafter told the Miami Herald Monday.
The boat was moving backwards at the time of the crash, indicating that anglers were struggling with game fish when Montero went down.
Officials are continuing to investigate the incident and say it could be months before the family knows exactly what happened.
However, fishing professionals told the newspaper that if someone falls while the boat is reversing, there is a good chance they will hit the propeller.
Alviarez often took to Instagram to show off his catch and his passion for fishing.
“If I back away from the fish and someone falls as the boat moves backwards, there is a real chance they will end up in the propeller,” Larry Wren, captain of the Islamorada-based fishing boat, said.
“If you fall, you will end up under the car. It’s a tragedy, but it can happen any day. It’s like a marlin jumping into a boat and spearing someone. That happens.’
Alviarez’s father, Juan Carlos Escotet, is the founder of the Venezuelan bank Banesco and is worth an estimated $3.5 billion.
Alviarez is linked to several multi-million dollar addresses in the Miami area, including homes in the exclusive suburbs of Coconut Grove and Pinecrest, where his home is located in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission crash report.
His father, 62-year-old Juan Carlos Escot, is the founder of the Venezuelan bank Banesco and is worth an estimated $3.5 billion, according to Forbes.
The banking heir graduated from the University of Miami and was a member of the board of directors of Banesco USA, the US division headquartered in Miami, according to the company’s website.
He has been described as having “extensive experience in real estate development in the Miami area”.
According to the Venezuelan newspaper El Nacional, his two brothers also work in a bank.
Based on an Instagram page documenting his hobby, the banking heir appears to have been a fan of competitive fishing.
One photo, dated January 31, 2021, shows him along with his fiancée and other friends aboard a boat called the Otoro.
“Despite the slow fishing this weekend, we had a great time at #reefcup as always. I also managed to catch two on Friday and one on Saturday. Ranked 6th out of 51 boats and second in Friday’s daily edition,” he wrote.