Body of New Zealand teen recovered after houseboat sank off Cox’s Bazar

The body of Albert, 16, a New Zealand national who went missing after a houseboat carrying his family sank off Nazirartek in Cox’s Bazar, was recovered this afternoon, over 24 hours after the incident.

The body was found floating near the coast of Samiti Para in ward-1 of Cox’s Bazar municipality at around 5:30pm, said Sheikh Mohammad Ali, officer-in-charge of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Police Station.

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“After recovering the body, it was sent to the morgue of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital,” he said.

Albert went missing after the houseboat, “Island Girl”, carrying the four-member New Zealand family, broke into two and sank after being hit by large waves and strong currents near Nazirartek Point on Tuesday morning.

Other members of the family – John Edward, 74, his wife Bella, 36, and their son Ralph, 13 – were rescued with the help of local fishermen and residents.

The incident occurred near the estuary of the Moheshkhali Channel shortly after the family set out to sea, according to local fishermen.

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Albert's body was found floating near the coast of Samiti Para in ward-1 of Cox’s Bazar municipality at around 5:30pm, said police. Photo: Star

Eyewitnesses said the boat encountered heavy waves and strong currents soon after beginning its journey and broke into two within moments, throwing all four family members into the sea.

Ralph told The Daily Star that the family had been travelling by sea towards Chattogram on their houseboat to extend their visas. He and his father were on the deck, while his mother was under a tarpaulin canopy putting a life jacket on Albert.

He said the boat suddenly collapsed and the clip on Albert’s life jacket might not have been fastened at the time. Albert also did not know how to swim, Ralph said.

The family had been staying around Cox’s Bazar for about two and a half years, travelling by sea and river on the houseboat, which was designed by his father and built by local craftsmen, Ralph said.

According to local fishermen, “Island Girl” was a modern houseboat built at a cost of more than Tk 1 crore and designed for long sea journeys. It reportedly had air-conditioned rooms, a refrigerator, a kitchen and other facilities, and took around two years to build.

Local fishermen said the family had been staying on the vessel for a long time after anchoring it in the Bakkhali River, opposite the Nuniachhara BIWTA jetty.