Incident off Silhouette - No one on board boat when it capsized

There was no one on board the seven-metre fibreglass boat when it sank close to Silhouette on Sunday afternoon, the Islands Development Company (IDC) has said.

In a press communiqué dated Monday May 8, 2017, the IDC wrote that the seven-metre fibreglass boat belonged to La Belle Tortue guesthouse on Silhouette island and had gone to Grand Barbe for a visit.

The boat was carrying five persons, including the manager of the establishment, some staff and friends.

Still according to the communiqué, the boat got to Grand Barbe and was anchored close to the beach.

And while at anchor, it was struck sideways by a wave which caused it to capsize and sink in shallow water.

At the time of the incident, there was no one on board as the passengers had gone for a swim a short distance away.

Contrary to the police report no one had to swim to safety when the boat had sunk, adds the communiqué.

The stranded passengers were transported back by one of the Hilton Labriz boat.

Yesterday morning, the owner of the boat with the help of IDC staff based on Silhouette, managed to refloat the vessel and by afternoon the boat had been towed back to La Passe.

According to the police communiqué of Sunday May 7, 2017, there were six people ‒ two Seychellois and four foreigners ‒ on board the boat when it capsized.