New Zealand Family’s Trip Turns to Tragedy; Teenager Missing After Boat Capsizes Off Cox’s Bazar
A New Zealand family of four experienced a terrifying boat accident on Tuesday morning. Their wooden boat overturned in the Sonadia Channel, near the coast of Cox’s Bazar. Three family members were rescued by local fishermen. However, a 16-year-old boy from the family remains missing.
The family started their journey from Nazirartek coast around 9:15 AM. They were crossing the sea channel to Sonadia Island in Maheshkhali. Strong waves hit the boat when it reached the middle of the channel. A large wave then capsized the boat, throwing everyone into the water.
Nearby fishermen quickly came to help the struggling family. They successfully rescued three people. These included two women and one man. The rescued individuals are Edward, 74, Bella, 36, and Ralph, 13.
The missing teenager has been identified as Albert, aged 16. An urgent and large search operation began immediately after the incident. Sheikh Mohammad Ali, officer-in-charge of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model Police Station, confirmed the accident. He told local reporters about the ongoing search.
The Bangladesh Coast Guard and the Fire Service are leading this important effort. Dolon Acharya is a senior officer at the Cox’s Bazar Fire Service Station. He said a specialized Fire Service team quickly reached the accident scene. Divers are actively searching the Maheshkhali Channel for Albert. The search continued until 5:00 PM on Tuesday, but the teenager was not found. Teams will continue searching the channel.
The New Zealand family had been staying in Cox’s Bazar for several days. They were traveling around different areas like Cox’s Bazar, Maheshkhali, and Sonadia Island. The three rescued family members are currently receiving medical attention at a local hospital. Fishermen from the Nazirartek area described the swift rescue. They saw the boat capsize and immediately went to help. Their quick actions saved three lives. Authorities remain hopeful that Albert will be found.
