Two boys aged 10 and 11 died after a riverbank collapsed, among 3 other children while they were playing and fishing with friends near a River in Kawerau, New Zealand. The incident occurred when a section of the riverbank suddenly gave way, trapping the children beneath it.
Emergency services responded quickly, with police and fire crews attempting to rescue the boys. Two officers reportedly entered the river and tried to dig them out by hand, but both children were later found deceased. A third child involved in the collapse was able to escape.
Following the incident, a cultural restriction was placed on the river, temporarily prohibiting recreational activities such as swimming and fishing. Authorities have referred the deaths to the coroner for further investigation. The tragedy highlights environmental hazards associated with unstable natural play areas, particularly riverbanks prone to collapse.
