Devon and Cornwall police and the Maritime Accident Authority have launched investigations after two people died in a lake in Devon when a motorboat capsized.
A man believed to be in his 40s, and a woman in her 60s, both disabled, died after a boat capsized at around 1.30pm on Wednesday in Lake Roadford, near Okehampton. Their bodies were removed from the lake on Thursday, about 24 hours after the incident.
Six people were thrown overboard when the boat capsized. Four were rescued, including a 50-year-old woman who remains in critical condition at Derifdd Hospital in nearby Plymouth. The others are written on the spot. The Maritime Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said all involved were believed to be from Devon.
The two victims have not yet been officially identified, but special services are supporting the families, police in Devon and Cornwall said. The Lake West Lakes Charitable Center, which operates from the lake, has been closed since Wednesday afternoon.
In a statement, the charity said it was “shocked and saddened by the tragic events.” “Our thoughts are many with those affected, their families and friends,” it added.
Devon and Cornwall Police Assistant Toby Davis said: “It was a tragic accident in which two people lost their lives. We continue to support all families involved in deploying specialized family liaison officers, and our thoughts remain with these families at this difficult time.
“Parallel investigations will look into the circumstances surrounding the MAIB incident, in addition to identifying ways to prevent a similar incident in the future.
“These investigations have already established a link with HM Coroner and we would expect this to develop further next week.
A MAIB spokesman said: “Our investigation is at an early stage and our current focus is on gathering as much evidence as possible.
“This will include everything from the day’s events to the design and construction of the boat.
“We are conducting a safety investigation, which will seek to establish the circumstances and causes of the incident and identify ways to prevent such an incident in the future.
“All lines of investigation are open and are being checked.
“It is too early in the investigation to say more about this, but we can assure everyone that if we identify the need for urgent safety messages, they will be issued immediately.
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