Man dies in boating incident on Norfolk Broads

A boat moored up on a concrete quay
The victim was on holiday in Norfolk from North Yorkshire Credit: ITV Anglia

A man on a boating holiday on the Norfolk Broads has died following an incident on the River Bure.

Emergency services were called to a stretch of the river near Great Yarmouth at 2pm on Tuesday afternoon (15 September).

The victim, who was in his 20s and from North Yorkshire, was airlifted to the James Paget Hospital and then to Addenbrooke's but died late on Tuesday night.

The stretch of the River Bure, one mile upstream from Great Yarmouth, where the incident happened Credit: ITV Anglia

Broads Beat, Norfolk Police's marine unit, confirmed those involved had been hiring a boat.

They tweeted: "Thanks to all in attendance at todays incident on the River Bure near Great Yarmouth involving holiday makers on a hire boat."

The boat, called Acapulco, had been hired from Richardson's boatyard in Stalham. It was moved to Great Yarmouth yacht station following the incident where it remained on Wednesday morning.

The yacht station was closed during the incident while emergency services were on the scene, with boaters asked to find moorings elsewhere.

As well as the police, Coastguard, RNLI and fire service teams were called to the site.

Norfolk Police will now carry out a joint investigation with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch.

The man is the second to die in incidents involving boats in less than a month; in August a woman became trapped under a boat at Great Yarmouth yacht station.

The Broads Authority said the incident on Tuesday highlighted the dangers of entering fast flowing tidal waters from a boat.

John Packman, Chief Executive of the Broads Authority, said: "Everyone at the Broads Authority is extremely saddened by the tragic accident on the River Bure yesterday and we offer our sincere condolences to the man’s family and those affected."Since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted the Broads waterways have been very busy with visitors. The vast majority visit without incident, however we have experienced several accidents this year which have had terribly tragic consequences for those involved.

"As with any activity on the water there are risks involved and to minimise these it is important that everyone follows safety advice for using the waterways and is especially important for those that have not used a boat before."The Broads Authority will continue to work closely with hire companies to get these messages across effectively when customers pick up their boats and we will review how we can further improve this to prepare people for their experience on the Broads."