On Monday morning, a tour boat capsized inside a cave approximately 20 miles from Niagara Falls.
According to Lockport Police, the incident occurred around 11:20 am while passengers were aboard the Lockport Cave & Underground tour boat. In response, multiple agencies were summoned to the location to conduct a search for the individuals in the water.
According to Spectrum News, Mayor Michelle Roman confirmed during a press conference that a tragic incident resulted in the loss of one life.
The identity of the deceased individual, who was in their 60s, has not been disclosed. However, authorities have revealed that the victim's spouse is currently undergoing recovery at a hospital.
Lockport Fire Chief Luca Quagliano reported that a total of 29 individuals, including 28 passengers and one staff member, were present on the tour boat when it capsized. Following the breach of the cave's exterior wall, 16 individuals were successfully rescued by boat.
The remaining passengers managed to exit the cave unassisted, as the water inside the caves had a depth ranging from two to six feet. It is worth noting that all individuals on the boat were local residents who were taking part in a complimentary tour specifically arranged for hospitality workers.
