New Zealand reporter dies in Seychelles boat accident

Victoria (Seychelles) Feb 9 (AFP) A female reporter from New Zealand working for a Dubai-based radio station was killed when the ferry she was on collided with another boat in the Seychelles, the archipelago's government said today. The accident occurred in the late hours yesterday between the main island of Mahe and Sainte Anne Island, according to a government statement issued as the Indian Ocean islands were celebrating their annual carnival. "A thirty-five year old New Zealander reporter for Dubai Eye Radio, Rebecca Davidson, sustained injuries during the collision, and was pronounced deceased upon her arrival at the Seychelles Hospital," the statement read. There were five foreign visitors and resort staff on Davidson's boat, it added. Only the skipper was on board the second vessel. Home Affairs and Transport Minister Joel Morgan called the incident "deeply regrettable". "The safety of passengers using ferries between the islands is of paramount importance... And such accidents are rare," he said. Two investigations into the incident have been launched that would "reveal the exact causes of the collision and will enable the authorities to take appropriate action," he added. (AFP) KKM KKM 02092112 NNNN