Appeals for Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez and his friends—Eddy Rivero and Emilio Macias—not to embark on a late-night boating expedition went unheeded, according to newly released text messages.
Will Bernal, a close friend of Rivero’s, posted the pair’s text conversation, where he urged his friend to remain safe during a fishing trip with the Marlins rising star on Instagram. The darkness and the choppy waves were a recipe for disaster and he felt the trip was a bad idea.
“Yo, please be careful bro,” Bernal told Rivero shortly after midnight on Sept. 25. “Try to keep him close to shore.”
“Trust me it’s not my time yet,” Rivero responded.
That would be the last time he'd hear from his friend, as the boat carrying the three crashed into a jetty at around 3 a.m. Sunday morning, killing all passengers. Authorities have not indicated who was steering the boat and doesn’t believe alcohol or drugs played a role in the accident.
According to Bernal, Rivero had a bad feeling about the trip but went as a supportive friend for Fernandez. Several news outlets have reported that Fernandez and his girlfriend were involved in a verbal spat.
