Devon: Police launch investigation as two disabled people die after boat capsizes in lake | UK News

Police have started an investigation after two disabled people died when a motor boat capsized in a lake.

The bodies of two missing people were recovered from Roadford Lake, near Okehampton in Devon, yesterday about 24 hours after the boat capsized.

A third person, a woman in her 50s, remains in a critical condition at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

Devon and Cornwall Police and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) have now opened investigations into the incident.

Superintendent Toby Davies, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “This has been a tragic incident in which two people have lost their lives.

“We continue to support all of the families involved with the deployment of specialist family liaison officers and our thoughts remain with those families at this difficult time.

“The parallel investigations will look at the circumstances surrounding the incident with the MAIB in addition identifying ways to prevent a similar incident occurring in the future.

“These investigations have already seen liaison with HM Coroner and we would expect this to progress further during the next week.”

Six people were onboard the boat when it turned over at about 1.30pm on Wednesday.

Two people were taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, where one remains in a critical condition and one was discharged.

The other two were pulled from the water and checked by paramedics before being discharged at the scene.

All the people in the boat were local to Devon, investigators said.

‘All lines of inquiry are being examined’

The MAIB did not respond to reports the victims were in wheelchairs at the time, or if investigators would look into whether they were strapped into the boat and were wearing buoyancy aids.

A spokesman said: “Our investigation is in its early stages and our current focus is on gathering as much evidence as possible.

“All lines of inquiry are open and being examined.”

South West Lakes Trust, which runs the lake near Dartmoor, said its on-site activity centre would be closed until further notice.

Roadford Lake Sailing Club said: “Our thoughts are also with the centre staff who performed some heroics to minimise the loss.

“We would also like to thank the emergency services who attended who offered support on shoreside and spent a long time doing search and rescue on the water.”

Bob Tolley, the mayor of Okehampton, said: “We are all thinking about those poor families involved, and our condolences go out to all.”