As we come to the end of the summer, people are taking advantage of the last days of sunshine and warm weather. But those perfect summer days can also lead to tragedy, as too many people know. It seems that this year has seen an uptick in boating tragedies as people have taken to the water for summer adventures.
One family in New Jersey found themselves the victims of one such late summer tragedy. A day spent boating on Long Beach Island ended in a horrific accident that has left a teenager dead and a community in mourning as the young woman's death remains under investigation.
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The accident happened over the weekend.
According to NBC10 Philadelphia, the first news outlet to report on the accident, it occurred in the afternoon on Sunday, August 25, in the water off Sunset Park in Harvey Cedars Borough on Long Beach Island, New Jersey. The Harvey Cedars Police Department, the fire department, and EMS were called to the scene.
The police called the incident 'tragic.'
While details are still emerging, reports from police said that the victim was 18-year-old Zeina Mahafzah. She was on a raft being pulled by the boat, and when she attempted to get back on the boat, she was struck by the boat's motor, which decapitated her. Harvey Cedars police called Mahafzah's death a "tragic boating accident."
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Her family is devastated.
TAPinto Wayne stated that Mahafzah had recently graduated from Wayne Hills High School in Wayne, New Jersey, and was planning to attend Rutgers University this fall.
Initial reports from NBC10 Philadelphia claimed that the teen's father was the one driving the boat. He and other "traumatized" people who were on the boat were treated by first responders. Her father reportedly would not leave her side in the aftermath of the accident.
The accident is still be investigated, and no additional details have been released.
The community is rallying behind the family.
A local Facebook page reported on the death, with hundreds of people leaving comments with condolences and prayers for the family.
"Prayers for the family," one person wrote. "This poor father having to witness this. OMG how devastating."
"I cannot imagine," another person commented. "That poor man, that poor family!! Let that man sit with her, all night if need be. I would not come back from this."
"Let the man sit by his daughter," another comment reads. "Let him grieve as long as he needs to. He deserves that much. This is heart breaking."
Another wrote: "This is so tragic! Life is so precious. I’m sure everyone there that saw this is traumatized."
"My heart tore when I read this," one person wrote. "That poor child and I couldn't imagine watching the father screaming for his child's life. Nor could I imagine the pain he was going through. Prayers to this young girls family. May you find peace somehow in this."
