Body of missing New Zealand teenager recovered from Coxs Bazar beach 32 hours after boat capsize
Photo Collected
The body of a 16-year-old New Zealand national, Albert, who went missing after a boat capsized in the Sonadia Channel near Maheshkhali, was recovered on Wednesday afternoon. The remains washed ashore at Kutubdia Beach in the Nazirartek area of Cox’s Bazar Municipality, approximately 32 hours after the vessel sank.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) Sheikh Mohammad Ali of the Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model Police Station confirmed the recovery, noting that the body was discovered at approximately 5:30 p.m. local time. The remains have been transported to the morgue at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital. Authorities are currently coordinating with the victim’s family and the New Zealand embassy to determine the next steps, including whether an autopsy will be performed and the arrangements for the repatriation of the body.
The incident occurred on Tuesday morning when a makeshift vessel, named “Island Girl,” capsized in rough seas. The boat was constructed by lashing two wooden vessels together and was being operated by 74-year-old New Zealander Edward. He was accompanied by his wife, Bela, 36, and their two sons, Albert and Ralph, 13.
Approximately two kilometers from the coast, the vessel encountered heavy swells in the Sonadia Channel, causing the structure to break apart and overturn. Nearby fishing vessels responded to the emergency, successfully rescuing Edward, Bela, and Ralph. However, Albert remained missing, prompting a multi-agency search operation involving the Coast Guard and the Fire Service.
The search concluded on Wednesday evening when local residents spotted the body at Kutubdia Beach. Lifeguards, along with fire service personnel, the Coast Guard, and local police, arrived at the scene to identify and retrieve the victim.
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