Devon and Cornwall police and the Marine Corps have launched investigations after two people were killed on a lake in Devon when a motor boat capsized.
A man, believed to be in his 40s, and a woman in her 60s, both with disabilities, were killed after a boat capsized at around 1.30pm on Wednesday at 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 is still in critical condition at Derriford Hospital in nearby Plymouth. The others were discharged at the scene. The Maritime Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said all involved were believed to be from Devon.
The two people who died had not yet been formally identified, but specialist support agents were supporting the families, Devon and Cornwall police said. The charity’s South West Lakes activity center, which operates from the lake, has been closed since Wednesday afternoon.
In a statement, the charity said it was “surprised and saddened by the tragic events”. “Our thoughts are very much with those affected, their families and friends,” he added.
Devon and Cornwall Police Supervisor Toby Davies said: “This has been a tragic incident in which two people have been killed. We continue to support all families involved in the deployment of family liaison officers. specialized and our thoughts remain with these families at this difficult time.
“Parallel investigations will analyze the circumstances surrounding the incident with the MAIB, as well as identify ways to prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future.
“These investigations have already been linked to HM Coroner and we expect this to progress further over the next week.”
A MAIB spokesman said: “Our research is in its early stages and our current focus is to gather as much evidence as possible.
“This will include everything from the day’s events to the design and construction of the ship.
“We are conducting a safety investigation that will try to establish the circumstances and causes of the accident and identify ways to prevent a similar accident in the future.
“All lines of research are open and are being examined.
“It’s too early in the investigation to say anything more about this, but we can assure everyone that if we identify the need for urgent security messages, they will be issued without delay.”