Emergency services responded to the Georges River around 6pm yesterday after two girls on the shore noticed debris from the watercraft in the water and then saw a 14-year-old boy calling for help, intermittently losing consciousness.
It’s suspected that the boy and his 15-year-old companion, who was found deceased nearby, struck an obstacle and were ejected into the water at Tom Uglys Bridge in Sylvania.
A police officer who arrived early on the scene jumped into the water to rescue the surviving boy, bringing him to the shore before he was transported to Sydney Children’s Hospital for treatment on what police described as a severed arm.
Inspector Timothy Carter described the officer’s actions as “heroic”.
“The police have done their best to try and save these kids’ lives,” he said.
“And it’s, you know, we obviously feel great empathy towards the families.”
Family friend Fred Nagi sent his condolences to the family of the boy who died.
The 14-year-old’s distraught father told 9news he believed the young boys were on their way home when the accident happened and might have hit a barge.
It was already dark at the time.
A crime scene has been established as police investigate and prepare a report for the coroner.
