Female German tourist, 20, may have been racing her boyfriend, 19, when their boats collided – killing her and seriously injuring him
- Woman has died after two small boats collided off Sydney’s Pittwater area
- A man who suffered serious head injuries in the crash was rushed to hospital
- He who also suffered injuries to his legs is in a serious but stable condition
- Paramedics had to be winched down to a remote jetty in low light conditions
A female tourist from Germany could have been involved in a boat race with her boyfriend when her vessel crashed in Sydney’s Pittwater area.
The woman, 20, was found unconscious by paramedics and could not be revived while a man, 19, understood to be her boyfriend was rushed to hospital with serious head injuries.
Paramedics had to be winched down by helicopter in low visibility to a remote jetty after the small runabouts crashed near Elvina Bay on Pittwater at about 7pm on Sunday – opposite the exclusive Scotland Island.
Police confirmed two vessels were involved in the crash, but it’s not known whether the young woman and man were on the same boat.
But whether the pair, who both lived in the area, were ‘racing’ is a factor in the investigation, reports The Daily Telegraph.
Locals said they heard a loud ‘bang’ followed by screams for help.
A woman has died after two small boats collided on Pittwater while a man has suffered serious head injuries
Two NSW air ambulances responded to the accident, with witnesses saying they heard a bang and then cries for help from the water
The man was treated at the scene for serious head injuries and then taken to Royal North Shore Hospital where he is reported to be in a serious but stable condition.
NSW Police Commander of the Marine Area Command Detective Superintendent Murray Reynolds said they have seized two boats in relation to the incident.
‘The investigation remains ongoing but there’s evidence the vessels came into collision with each other,’ he told reporters on Monday morning.
‘We’re yet to understand exactly what happened but potentially the vessels were going in opposite directions.
‘There were two people involved in the collision, one a deceased 20-year-old believed to be a German national. The other a 19-year-old who had been airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital.’
Det Insp Murray said the area where the crash occurred was ‘extremely dark’ at 7pm when the crash occurred.
‘It’s a tragedy, it’s a horrific set of circumstances,’ he added.
Christine Marks from NSW Ambulance said emergency services had scrambled to attend the isolated scene, located off Ku-Ring Gai National Park.
‘This was a major mobilisation of emergency services in very difficult circumstances — pitch black, across cold water, in a very inaccessible location,’ she said.
‘Our aeromedical team did really well accessing the patient under the circumstances.
Paramedics had to be winched down by helicopter in pitch black to a remote jetty after the small runabouts crashed near Elvina Bay on Pittwater at about 7pm on Sunday – opposite the exclusive Scotland Island (pictured)
‘(The man) suffered multiple cuts and bruises to his face and legs for which paramedics provided pain management.
‘I’m sorry that there’s been such a tragic outcome in this case.’
Two ambulance helicopters, four ambulances and water police responded to the accident.
Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk