Police find two bodies after boat capsizes on Dartmoor reservoir

Police find two bodies while searching for missing people who were ‘strapped into their wheelchairs’ before boat capsized on Dartmoor reservoir during fishing trip

• Devon and Cornwall Police confirm two bodies have been located and recovered
• Formal identification is yet to take place, but their families have been informed 
• Major operation launched yesterday when boat capsized during a fishing trip 
• A third person also remains in a critical condition at a hospital in Plymouth

Police have recovered two bodies while searching for two disabled adults who were ‘strapped into their wheelchairs’ before their boat capsized during a fishing trip on a Dartmoor reservoir. 

Devon and Cornwall Police has this evening confirmed two bodies have been located after a group of adults were thrown into Roadford Lake near Okehampton, Devon at around 1.30pm on Wednesday.

Formal identification is yet to take place, but the families of the two individuals have been informed of the development. 

Chief Superintendent Dan Evans said: ‘This is an extremely distressing incident and our thoughts are with all of those involved and their loved ones, who we are working closely with to offer help and support wherever we can.

Police at the scene at Roadford Lake near Okehampton, Devon, as a major operation continued

Police, fire and ambulance services, the air ambulance, HM Coastguard and search and rescue teams were all involved in the search

Police this evening said they have recovered two bodies after using specialist equipment and resources.

A road was closed near an activity centre at the reservoir on Thursday, while police warned people not to lift or operate drones around the area

A third person remains in a critical condition at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth after being pulled from the water

‘Every effort has been made to locate the two people who remained unaccounted for as fast as possible.

‘Tragically, we can confirm that the bodies of two people were located and recovered this afternoon. Our priority is to support their families.’

A major operation was launched yesterday afternoon when six adults were thrown from the boat during a fishing trip.

Police, fire and ambulance services, the air ambulance, HM Coastguard and search and rescue teams all attended were all present at the scene.

Two people were removed from the water and taken to Derriford Hospital for treatment yesterday. One of them has since been discharged, but another remains in a critical condition.  

A further two people were checked by paramedics at the scene before they were discharged.

A police statement added: ‘Police have located and recovered the bodies of two people during a large-scale search of Roadford Lake, near Okehampton, after a boat capsized on Wednesday.

‘A major operation using specialist equipment and resources in and over the water, on land, and with drones has continued today [Thursday 9 June].

‘The families of two people who had been unaccounted for following the incident have been informed of the development. They are being supported by specially-trained officers. Formal identification is yet to take place.’

Police say they used specialist equipment and resources both in and out of the water during the search today

Officers at the scene on Wednesday after a major search operation was launched at the reservoir

The two missing persons are understood to have been disabled, according to the Marine Accident Investigation Branch

Police have refused to confirm or deny whether the group were from a local nursing home.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch, which is investigating the tragedy, confirmed in a report on the Government’s website that the two missing persons were disabled.

The report: ‘Capsize of a motor vessel on Roadford Lake in Devon, England.  The vessel was carrying six occupants, four have been rescued but two disabled persons still remain unaccounted for.’

All of those involved believed to be from Devon, investigators say.

The six adults were on the boat on the water in gusty conditions when it capsized. 

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