Two die, several injured after boat collides with inflatable on Mediterranean coast
Pilot reportedly fell overboard and into boat propeller before craft circled and smashed into inflatable it was towing
Two people have died and another five injured – one in critical condition – following a freak boating accident in southern France yesterday.
The incident took place off the coast near Saint-Cyprien (Pyrénées-Orientales) on Tuesday (September 1) after a collision between a motorised boat and an inflatable it was towing.
The pilot of the boat and one of the people on the inflatable have died, with several other ‘passengers’ injured.
An initial investigation into manslaughter has been opened by the local public prosecutor, but this is subject to change as more details are revealed.
Gruesome incident
“It appears the boat was destabilised by the waves it created [while carrying the passengers] and the pilot was thrown out,” said Perpignan Public Prosecutor Jérôme Bourrier to AFP.
“The boat reportedly went out of control, circling around itself, running over the [towed inflatable], and striking the victims,” added Mr Bourrier, though he pointed out that the details of the incident were still being investigated and initial accounts of what happened should be treated with caution.
“The pilot was struck by the boat's propeller and sank immediately,” said a witness to the incident, quoted in media outlet Le Figaro.
The pilot’s body was later retrieved from the water by emergency services.
“The unmanned boat continued its turn and struck the inflatable it was towing, killing a woman and seriously injuring a man in the arm and leg.”
It is unknown what caused the pilot to fall overboard, but local media reports suggest it happened as the boat was making a wide turn.
Further media reports suggest the pilot had not correctly attached the ‘kill-switch’ to his person, which allows for the boat’s engine to be stopped if an incident occurs.
Were rules followed?
Part of the investigation will no doubt look into whether the boat was correctly set up for towing passengers.
Watersports are a popular activity along the Mediterranean coastline, including the use of towed inflatables or devices tied to boats, but strict rules must be followed.
These apply both to companies offering activities as well as private vessels.
The main rules, pointed out by lawyer Bertrand Coste to boating website superyachtnews, include:
Towing activities can only be carried out in the daytime
Boats must use authorised navigation channels when leaving or returning to shore
Everyone on the inflatable must wear correct safety equipment (a buoyancy device in case of falling overboard)
The towing cord must be brightly coloured and must be easily identifiable.
The towing craft must be equipped with a quick-release system for the towing line, as well as an orange flag for increased visibility
There must be at least two people on the boat – one to helm the vehicle, the other, aged 16 or above, to be in charge of the people on the towed inflatable
The boat must be able to carry all the people on the inflatable alongside those already on the boat, in case of an incident
Full rules can be found through the various prefectoral orders issued by the Mediterranean maritime authorities.
Note that different rules are in place for vessels along the Atlantic and northern coasts, as well as on navigable waterways.
It is best to check local prefectoral orders before using your boat for any towing on French waters.
