Disabled duo drown in reservoir after boat capsizes

POLICE have recovered the bodies of two disabled people believed to have been strapped into their wheelchairs when a boat carrying six people capsized.

A major operation was launched after a group of six adults went into a Dartmoor reservoir at around 1.30pm on Wednesday. Police, fire and ambulance services, the air ambulance, HM Coastguard and search and rescue teams rushed to Roadford Lake near Okehampton, Devon.

Two people were removed from the water and taken to Derriford Hospital. One has since been discharged, but another remains in a critical condition yesterday. A further two people were checked by paramedics at the scene before they were discharged.

Devon and Cornwall Police last night confirmed two bodies had been found and that the six people involved were all from the Devon area, but would not say if they were from a local nursing home.

An insider earlier told Metro: “The two people that are missing were strapped into their wheelchairs.”

Ch Supt Dan Evans said: “This is an extremely distressing incident and our thoughts are with all of those involved and their loved ones.”