Two dead, two still missing from capsized boat incident in Lautoka

What was meant to be a relaxing Sunday afternoon family fishing trip turned into an unimaginable tragedy, with two people found dead and two still missing at sea.

Sixty-six-year-old boat owner Basant Singh’s body was retrieved near Covuli Reef, just outside Lautoka, on Monday afternoon, where another body was found yesterday.

His nephew, Abdul Hasif Haq, was the only survivor. He swam to Covuli Reef after the boat capsized and alerted the family in Velovelo using a fisherman’s mobile phone. The fisherman was nearby when the tragedy occurred.

The incident happened between Vio Island, just off Lautoka Wharf, and Covuli Reef.

Shortly before the boat capsized, grandmother Ashiana Begum spoke on the mobile phone with her seven-year-old grandson, Arshad Irfan Khan, one of the two still missing.

The late Mr Singh owned a garage in Velovelo, Lautoka.

Police said the search for the trio continued yesterday morning in waters off Covuli Reef in Saweni, Lautoka.

“The three were travelling on a fiberglass boat with two others when it capsized near the reef on Sunday night,” police said.

“One of the victims managed to swim safely to shore, the 66-year-old boat owner was unfortunately found later floating near the reef on Monday.”

Police search continues this morning.

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