A tragic boating incident which underscores the need for safety equipment, including the provision of life vests.
Ian Kaukui tells the very tragic story in the Solomon Star newspaper how four out of 12 people from Buka in Bougainville were rescued by a fishing boat after their own boat capsized and drifted at sea for 32 days.
On arrival yesterday, Saturday, at the Solomon Islands International Ports, the survivors were transported immediately to the National Referral Hospital (NRH) for medical attention following their terrible sea ordeal.
The survivors include a woman and her young girl about 12 years another boy in his 20s and a man.
The graphic details of the events following the boat capsizing and the deaths of 8 passengers, including the death of a couple and their baby, really put into perspective the grim risks of travelling by small boats in open, often rough waters.
The story also underlines the need for boat owners to issue life vests to boat passengers and to ensure emergency flares or some kind of signalling devises are carried on board.
If there had been life vests issued in the case of the 12 passengers that had set sail from Buka over a month ago, there could have been other survivors.
All too often tragic accidents at sea are occurring and despite warning on safety issued by the Police and other authorities.
I feel sure all will offer sympathy to the four survivors and extend condolences to the families of the deceased.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
