A man and his six-year old son are fighting for their lives in hospital in Paris after a pleasure boat sank in the River Seine. The accident occured near Notre Dame Cathedral late last evening. About ten people jumped into the river as the small craft went down; all were rescued, but the man and his son needed emergency treatment.

It is not clear what caused the accident, which happened under the Pont de l’Archeveche linking the tip of the Ile de la Cite with Paris’ Left Bank.

Tourist boats, including the giant Bateaux Mouches pleasure craft, ply the river day and night, and accidents are extremely rare. Rescue services initially thought the sunken craft had hit the bridge, but later said the exact circumstances were unclear.

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