Woman on Backboard Dies After Rescue Boat Sinks

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Woman Dies After Rescue Boat Sinks -

<< SPRINGFIELD, Vt. -- A Vermont woman died on Tuesday afternoon in what investigators said was a river rescue tragedy.

Virginia Yates, 60, of Rockingham, Vt., was boating on the Connecticut River between Charlestown, N.H. and Springfield, Vt. Friends said Yates was injured when she was walking up a dock, missed a step and fell.

Because the riverbank was so steep, the decision was made to take her to an ambulance by boat.

A rescue boat from Cornish, N.H., with four people on board went and picked up the woman to bring her to an ambulance waiting downstream.

The woman was strapped on to a backboard.

During the transport, the boat began taking on water and sank. Yates disappeared into the water.

"The boat swamped and the emergency personnel were unable to recover Miss Yates until some time later, and she's passed," said Sullivan County Attorney Marc Hathaway.

There were no other injuries. The rescue boat remained underwater on Tuesday night about 200 feet from shore. Investigators raised the boat on Wednesday morning and were trying to determine why it took on water.>>

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WOW what a tragedy

MY thoughts and prayers go out to the family