- Boat flipped on the Moruya River, south of Batemans Bay, about 7am Saturday
- A 13-year-old girl became trapped inside the 6.3metre boat and was killed
- Another five passengers, including three adults and two children, were on board
- They have been taken to hospital for treatment to non life-threatening injuries
A teenage girl has died after a boat capsized while attempting to cross a river bar on the New South Wales south coast.
The 13-year-old became trapped inside the boat when it flipped on the Moruya River bar, south of Batemans Bay, about 7am Saturday.
On board the 6.3metre boat – which capsized about one kilometre from shore – were three children and three adults.
A teenage girl has died after a boat capsized while attempting to cross the Moruya River (pictured), on the New South Wales south coast, about 7am Saturday
Surf lifesavers found the teenage girl’s lifeless body inside the vessel and pulled her aboard a rescue boat, where they unsuccessfully attempted CPR.
All surviving passengers were taken to hospital for treatment to non life-threatening injuries.
The five passengers were three men aged 18, 29 and 46, as well as two other 13-year-old children.
Police said they are investigating the incident and the vessel is yet to be recovered.
Local charter fisherman Ron Ingram said the river bar is more dangerous than ‘people give credit for’ and should be treated with caution.
‘It’s getting shallower and shallower and more and more waves are standing up as you’re going out the bar,’ he told News.com.au.
‘A lot of the time people don’t have the necessary experience and take it far too lightly.’
He added that in three decades of fishing in the area, he can recall four or five people who have been killed on the river bar.
Meanwhile, Surf Lifesaving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce said: ‘Our thoughts go out to the family and to the rescuers who were involved in this extremely challenging and confronting situation faced by all this morning.’
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