Fishing boat skipper arrested for crash that killed surfer off northwestern Chile

Police officials in Chile have arrested the captain of a local fishing vessel for having accidentally run over a surfer, resulting in fatal injuries, in the waters off the country's northwestern coast late last week.

The incident occurred in the late afternoon (local time) of Friday, February 21, as the unnamed boat was returning to shore in Cobquecura in the Ñuble region on Chile's Pacific coast.

The boat hit a surfer, who has been identified as a 34-year-old female.

The victim suffered serious head injuries and needed to be brought to hospital. Tragically, however, she was pronounced deceased later in the day on Friday.

The 60-year-old fishing boat captain, who was eventually released, had told investigators that he did not see the surfer in the water at any time prior to the impact.

The head of a local artisanal fishermen's union told news outlet La Discusión that it was sometimes impossible for boat crews to see nearby surfers in the water, as the latter would often ignore approaching vessels in attempting to ride the waves.