Sydney officials reported that one teenager has died and another lost her arm in a horrific jet ski accident on Tuesday.
The victims were identified as 15-year-old and 14-year-old boys. After reports of people in the water, emergency services were called to the George's River near Tom Uglys Bridge in Sylvania shortly after 6:00 p.m.
Teenagers Involved in Sydney Jet Ski Accident
Sutherland Shire Police Area Command officers received information that a jet ski had most likely crashed in the area, throwing the teenagers into the river. In a statement, authorities added that the 15-year-old boy was found but could not be revived.
On the other hand, the 14-year-old was quickly treated at the scene for a severed arm before he was transferred to Sydney Children's Hospital by NSW Ambulance paramedics. Right now, the surviving individual is still in critical condition.
Authorities have established a crime scene at the area where the accident happened, and police are already conducting inquiries into the circumstances of the case. A report will be prepared later for the coroner, according to the New Zealand Herald.
Following the tragic accident, the classmates of the deceased 15-year-old boy gathered at the crash site and paid tribute to the victim. The accident reportedly happened after the jet ski that the two teenagers were riding struck an "obstacle" in the water.
Sutherland Shire Police Area Command Inspector Tim Carter said that the jet ski collided with an object or obstacle in the water. He added that this was what threw the two boys out into the water with immense force.
Addressing Major Safety Issues
This comes as the area around the bridge is littered with boats and marine barges that "have no lights" for better visibility. A family friend of the surviving 14-year-old boy, Fred Nagi, said that he was a "beautiful boy" and an experienced jet skier, ABC.Net reported.
Nagi added that there were several major safety issues near the bridge that officials needed to address to prevent a similar accident in the future. He noted that when the sun is setting and the area gets dark, the area under the bridge becomes a blind spot.
One witness, Alexandra Farrugia, said that she was walking in the area with her partner when she suddenly saw a body floating near the bridge at the time of the accident. She added that there were a lot of lights on the water and saw a police officer bringing someone up on his stomach, as per the NSW News .
