Jaunted

Boats

Tourist Boat Sinks in the Shadow of Notre Dame

September 15, 2008 at 9:38 AM | 1 Comment

A 45-year-old man and a six-year-old boy drowned in the Seine after a boat they were in sank Saturday. The vessel may have collided with one the flat-bottomed boats that ferry tourists up and down the river or the Pont de l'Archeveche, which links Île de la Cité to the Left Bank. Police are still investigating.

Another ten passengers were plucked from the water after the incident, and a barge from the tour company Bateaux-Mouches is reportedly moored near the scene. The boat's captain and first officer are both in custody.

Though boating accidents on the Seine are quite rare, The New York Times says currents near Paris' bridges can be unpredictable. We'll be sticking to the beach this summer.

Related Stories:
· Shipwreck on the Seine [Metro, in French]
· Two Die After Tourist Boat Sinks [NYT]
· Paris Travel coverage [Jaunted]