14-year-old Olivia Constants dies in Maryland sailing accident
A 14-year-old Maryland girl died in a sailing accident.
Olivia Constants was attending a sailing camp operated by the Severn Sailing Association on Thursday. After a hiatus the camp is back in operation Monday.
Constants was sailing a small two-person high-performance dinghy called a 420. She was helping balance the boat with the aid of a harness. When the boat capsized, she and her harness became entangled and even though she was wearing a life jacket, she was held under water.
A camp counselor reached and freed her quickly, but it was too late.
“There's a lot of parts on a boats. There’s a lot of things that could happen but it very rarely happens,” said sailor Paul Luisi.
Friends and family of Constants came to an Annapolis funeral home for viewings Monday. She'll be buried Tuesday.
Her family requested privacy but Constants, who just finished her freshman year at Broadneck high school is said to have been passionate about her friends, soccer and sailing.
Her death doing what she loved last week has stunned Annapolis sailors. “It's a devastating to the family and it’s devastating to the community, the sailing community as a whole,” said Doug Casler.
The Severn Sailing Association has declined comment on the accident. An investigation by the Natural Resources Police will take several weeks.
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