Sunday, January 17, 2010

Five students missing in boat mishap

By TAN SING CHOW


GEORGETOWN: Five Chung Ling High School students were missing when their boat capsized after being hit by strong waves off Macallum Street Ghaut here. The body of their teacher was found at about 11am.

A total of 17 students aged between 16 and 17 and their teacher-cum-coach were training for a dragon boat race when the incident occurred at about 9am when the team was doing the final lap before returning to the shore.

The boat capsized when the students were doing a sharp manoevre which hit a tug boat.

It is believed that strong currents had pulled the students into the water.

Twelve other students however managed to reach the shore.

Some of them swam about 1km while some were rescued by two passing fishing boats.

A search and rescue operation has been mounted by the police, the Fire and Rescue Department and the Civil Defence Department.

The sunken boat has been recovered and towed to the shore.

More to come

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