Two people were killed and another was seriously injured in a tragic accident involving an inflatable ride off the coast of Saint-Cyprien, France, on Tuesday. The incident occurred when the pilot of the motorboat towing the inflatable was thrown overboard.
According to prosecutors, the unmanned boat then began to circle uncontrollably before colliding with the inflatable and its passengers. One of the deceased was the pilot, who was reportedly struck by the boat's propeller. A woman on the inflatable also died in the crash, while a man sustained severe injuries to his arm and leg.
Perpignan public prosecutor Jérôme Bourrier stated that the boat might have been destabilized by waves prior to the pilot's ejection. However, he cautioned that the precise circumstances are still under investigation. A source close to the investigation indicated that the boat was in the midst of a wide turn when the pilot fell out. A major rescue operation was launched following the accident, as reported by the daily newspaper L'Indépendant. An investigation into manslaughter has been initiated.