Three children have died after a motorboat suffered engine failure in the English Channel

News24xx.com -  Three children aged seven, nine and 13 have died after a motorboat suffered engine failure and capsized in the English Channel.

The vessel is understood to have had six holidaymakers onboard as it tried to turn near Agon-Coutainville, Normandy.

There were three adults - made up of one couple and a woman - as well as three children, who suffered from cardiac arrest and died at the scene.

Two girls - aged nine and 13 - and a seven-year-old boy, whose nationalities are not known, was died.

One of the adults was believed to be the mother of one of the children.

The tragedy struck as the boat was 800m from Passous Beach at around 3.30pm local time.

A boat from the nearby sailing school was alerted to the crash by SOS and rushed towards it.

Firefighters and the National Society of Sea Rescuers (SNSM) later used boats and a helicopter to help the rescue.

The boat and all passengers were brought to shore.

It is thought the group had been camping in the nearby Gouville-sur-mer commune.

A statement from the authorities said, "The boat as well as all the passengers were brought back to the beach of Passous where they were taken care, in a state of emergency, by the medical teams and the firemen."

An investigation has been launched.

 

 

 

 

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