June Smith’s world shattered when her 13-year-old daughter, Harlie, died in a boating accident. But her love for her daughter — and her mission to protect others — remains unwavering.
“Everything changed after she passed away,” Smith said.
Harlie’s bedroom remains untouched. Her clothes still hang in the closet. Her desk, her bed — all preserved.
“I don't want to change it yet,” Smith said.
Harlie loved hearts — and the water. Smith described her daughter as a “water bug,” happiest while snorkeling and exploring the Florida Keys with her family.
But a tragic day on the water changed everything.
“In a minute you're happy, and then in a second, everything changes,” Smith said.
While out boating with family, a sudden accident left Harlie severely injured. The Smiths called 911 and used every resource they had to get help, but none came.
“There’s nobody physically that is medically trained, which would be the fire department, to come out and help you,” Smith said. “I just don't want people to live through that.”
For 20 agonizing minutes, the family raced back to shore on their own, calling 911 and VHF channels with no rescue boat in sight. A tow boat vessel eventually rushed Harlie to shore, but it was too late.
Smith now channels her grief into advocacy, pushing for improved marine emergency response in the Florida Keys.
“You shouldn't be so helpless,” she said.
Her nonprofit, Heart Like Harlie, is already making an impact. Thanks to its efforts, Islamorada now has a dedicated fire boat. Smith hopes more departments across the Keys follow suit.
She’s not alone in her mission. Useppa Island fire Chief Marc Mascarelli has spent years building a model water rescue system on Florida’s Gulf Coast — one Smith sees as a blueprint.
“We’re running to the same call. We’re serving the same citizen,” Mascarelli said.
Lee County’s Marine Emergency Response Team includes multiple fire boats per call, a text alert system integrated with dispatch, an overlaid grid map for precise location tracking, and a unified radio channel — LG TAC 1 — that allows firefighters, police and helicopters to communicate in real time.
Mascarelli’s motivation stems from 9/11, when his brother, also a firefighter, responded to the twin towers. He believes better communication could have saved lives that day and can today as well.
“This could happen again if we don't work together. People could die,” he said.
Now, Mascarelli and Smith are working in tandem, committed to change that could prevent future tragedies.
“I wasn’t hoping it was going to take my life to change this,” Smith said. “But it's taken almost four years to get where we are now, so we’re trying to make change.”
At the heart of her mission is Harlie.
Now, every day, Smith tries to live with a heart like Harlie's.
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