A Coast Guard helicopter. Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES
A 6-year-old girl has succumbed to injuries sustained as a result of a boating accident after the vessel she was on sank off Tortola's west end Sunday night, BVI authorities reported Monday.
Meanwhile, authorities have launched a search for a woman who was also aboard the vessel, according to Phil Aspinall, operations manager at the BVI Search and Rescue. Mr. Aspinall said the search started Sunday and continued Monday morning, and the effort has received support from other organizations, including the U.S. Coast Guard, which deployed a helicopter to aid in the search.
According to authorities, three minors were among ten individuals who were on a boat reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed when the accident occurred, according to BVI News. Nine of the ten individuals have been accounted for, according to authorities.
“Eye witnesses tell me, ‘suddenly it (the vessel) went in the air, everybody went into the air and suddenly it came back down’,” Mr. Aspinall told the publication.
Mr. Aspinall confirmed to BVI News that the vessel's captain was interviewed as authorities continue their investigation into the deadly accident.
Though only one death was reported, several of the vessel's passengers sustained multiple injuries, including a broken arm, broken/fractured ribs, and a dislocated collar bone, according to information authorities provided.
