Survivor of boat disaster mourns son

An Indianapolis woman recovering in hospital after losing nine relatives in a boating accident in the US says part of the reason the family went on the excursion was as a treat for her nine-year-old son, who was autistic.

Tia Coleman says her son Reece was “the happiest, sweetest boy” and made every day worth living and loved the water.

Her three children, husband and five other relatives died on Thursday when the amphibious “duck” boat they were in capsized in a severe thunderstorm on Table Rock Lake in south-west Missouri.

A total of 17 people died.