TWO people have been killed as a boat ploughed into an inflatable ride off the coast of southern France, it has been reported.
The incident happened off Saint-Cyprien, in the Pyrénées-Orientales, this afternoon after the pilot of the vessel, which was tugging the buoy, was ejected.
One of those killed was the pilot, who was reportedly struck by a propeller as the boat went “haywire”.
The vessel then reversed and struck several passengers on the inflatable.
A woman also died, while a man suffered serious injuries to his arm and leg and was flown to a nearby hospital via a helicopter.
A source close to the investigation said: “The pilot was hit by the boat’s propeller and sank immediately.
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“Initially, he was reported missing, before his body was found.”
Four others sustained minor injuries. In total, seven people were involved in the incident.
“It would appear that the boat was unbalanced by the waves generated and the pilot was ejected,” said public prosecutor of Perpignan, Jérôme Bourrier, according to Le Parisien.
“The boat went haywire, circling, passing over the buoy and hitting the victims. All these elements must for the moment be taken with caution.”
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He added: “For the moment, the investigation is open for manslaughter, but we have little information about the facts at this stage.”
Designed for recreational riding, inflatable buoys are pulled behind a motorboat, normally at high speeds.
So far, it remains unconfirmed how the pilot was ejected from the vessel.
Around 20 firefighters have since been dispatched to the beach, as well as water rescue specialists.