Banana boat victim named
THIS is the first picture of a British woman killed in a banana boat accident while on holiday in Egypt.
Janice Bowles, 58, was pulled from the sea after she reportedly became trapped underneath the inflatable as it turned over while being towed by a speedboat.
Thomas Cook customer Ms Bowles was staying at the five-star Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel at the Red Sea resort of Hurghada with her family, including her two daughters, when the accident happened on August 28.
The incident occurred one week after tourists John and Susan Cooper, who had also booked with Thomas Cook, died suddenly in the same hotel.
The travel company said it is investigating Ms Bowles's death, which happened when she was returning from an excursion to watch dolphins.
Ms Bowles, from Bristol, was with a group of tourists riding the inflatable back to shore, towed by a speedboat.
Another holidaymaker who was on the craft claimed the banana boat flipped, spilling all the riders into the sea after the speedboat “bombed out” of the water. He said Ms Bowles remained trapped underneath for a number of minutes.
The man, who did not want to be named, said: “I could hear the woman's daughter wailing, as she knew that there was something seriously wrong with her mum.
“They got the lady back on and they were doing chest compressions.”
He said a doctor was brought on board but Ms Bowles could not be saved.
Ms Bowles's daughter Annmarie Cox wrote on Facebook: “I am broken inside and don't know how to get my head around it. It is such a devastating shock to the whole family.
“She was the funniest, kindest, most loving mother I know and if I can aspire to be half the woman she is I know I'll do my girls proud.”
A Thomas Cook spokesman said: “We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family. We are urgently investigating what happened.”