A father and daughter have been killed and four other family members were left with "life-changing" injuries after they were hit by an out-of-control speedboat.
Police last night confirmed that a 51-year-old father and his eight-year-old daughter died in the horrific incident in the Camel Estuary near Padstow in North Cornwall yesterday.
DS James Colwell, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "This is a tragic incident, what we know at the moment in that we have two fatalities, a 51-year-old adult male and an eight-year-old female.
"We also know this was an incident that happened in the middle of the river involving, tragically, members of the same family.
"The information is suggesting at the moment that they are not local to the area and are here on holiday, renting a holiday home."
It is understood six people – all thought to be from the same family – were thrown into the sea, before they were said to have been run over by the boat.
According to some sources, two boys, aged four and 13, were among the casualties.
Children and adults suffered leg injuries of varying degrees of severity, John Oliver from South Western Ambulance Service said.
A major search and rescue operation was launched after the incident shortly before 4pm. The casualties were airlifted to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth where they were last night said to be in a serious condition.
Part of the harbour was cordoned off by police as officers launched an investigation.
Coastguard rescue teams from St Merryn and Polzeath attended the scene, along with search and rescue helicopters from RNAS Culdrose and RMB Chivenor.
The Rock inshore lifeboat and Padstow all-weather lifeboats also were also called to the scene of the tragedy.
Local resident Martin Jenkins, 63, said: "I heard the helicopter and went over to the estuary and saw the ambulance crews attending to a couple of people.
"It was all very frantic and the people were lying on the floor in a lot of discomfort."
"It looked terrible, the water was filled with blood."
It was not clear last night whether it was a commercial speedboat or privately owned.
Local canoeists at the scene helped recover some of the people from the water.
The boat is now subject to a Marine Accident and Investigation inquiry.