Two four-year-old boys and a lady died when their towed boat capsized and trapped them on an Arizona lake.
The terrible occurrence occurred Friday afternoon at the mouth of Navajo Canyon on Lake Powell, while another boater was towing a 25-foot privately owned pontoon boat, according to a National Park Service news release. Waves in the ocean ultimately contributed to the towed vessel’s capsize, trapping six of the 11 passengers beneath the upturned boat.
Melissa Bean, 72, and Gabriel Hart and Zeniff Cox, both four, were killed in the accident, according to officials.
According to the National Park Service, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area rangers reacted immediately after receiving a complaint at 3.18 p.m., discovering one member of the party on top of the pontoon boat and others in the water.
Nearby boaters also helped get the victims out of the water. The rangers and the Page Fire Department gave emergency medical assistance on the spot, and two people were transported to the hospital by helicopter, according to officials.
According to a GoFundMe website set up to support the family, the three deceased were related, but it is unclear how.
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The Cox family stated that they lost “three beloved family members” in the “tragic boating accident” on Lake Powell on Friday.
“Our hearts ache as we grapple with this sudden and heartbreaking loss,” according to the posting.
In addition to the “unimaginable grief,” the fundraising website stated that other members of the family, including 7-year-old Audrey Cox, remain in the hospital.
She was transported from the scene by air ambulance and is currently in a medically induced coma in the intensive care unit. Bean’s spouse, Roland “Rock” Bean, is also hospitalized and being treated for his injuries.
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The fundraising has received more than $40,000 toward its $75,000 target, and the family claims the money will be used for burial expenses for the little boys and Bean, medical fees for Audrey, and assistance for the two sets of parents who have lost their kids.
The National Park Service and Coconino County Sheriff’s Office “express their condolences to the families,” and both organizations are still investigating the tragedy.
According to Lt. Adam Simonsen, a spokesman for the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, it is not unusual for the department to investigate a death on the water regularly throughout the year. However, the magnitude of this – three fatalities and two in serious condition – is not normal, and it is undoubtedly unfortunate.”