Four die in tragic boating accident on the Vaal River

SAMSA opens investigation

SOUTH AFRICA: Three adults and a young child died when the small speed boat that were in capsized in the wake of a larger barge on the Vaal River over the weekend.

According to a statement issued by the South African Maritime Safety (SAMSA) today, there were ten people on board the vessel when it sailed past a bigger barge, which created a large wake of waves that caused the smaller vessel to capsize in the late afternoon of Saturday.

SAMSA has launched an investigation, but it is believed that the waves flooded the speed boat causing it to submerge and eventually capsize.

Regrettably, a woman/mother and her three (3) year toddler were trapped under neath the speed boat in the capsized position and drowned. Both were reportedly wearing personal flotation devices. Another that adults, also fitted with personal floatation devices drowned further away from the capsized speed boat.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) Water wing assisted in retrieving all the deceased from the river, as well as all the survivors, within twenty minutes of the incident occurring. Paramedics were reportedly also on the scene and attended to the survivors.

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