New Zealand family returns home after Cox's Bazar boat tragedy shatters world voyage dream
After spending around six weeks in Cox’s Bazar following the sinking of their boat and the death of their 16-year-old son, John Edward, his wife and surviving son are set to fly back to New Zealand, leaving behind the wreckage of their vessel and their son’s remains.
HIghlights:
- Their 16-year-old son Albert died after their boat sank
- Island Girl sank near Nazirartek on 25 August
- The family lost their boat, documents and planned voyage
- Authorities coordinated with New Zealand officials to arrange travel
- Albert's remains were cremated near the Bakkhali River
A New Zealand family whose dream of sailing around the world ended in tragedy off the coast of Cox's Bazar is set to return home tonight (9 October), more than a month after their boat sank, killing their 16-year-old son.
John Edward, his wife Bella, 36, and their 13-year-old son Ralph are scheduled to leave Bangladesh by air after completing the necessary legal and travel formalities, according to Cox's Bazar district administration.
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Their return marks the end of a prolonged and difficult stay in Bangladesh following the sinking of their boat, Island Girl, near Nazirartek, close to the mouth of the Bakkhali River, on 25 August.
Three family members were rescued alive, while their teenage son Albert went missing. His body was recovered the following day.
The family had arrived in Bangladesh on tourist visas in 2024 as part of a plan to sail around the world. They had spent years pursuing the project and had a custom-built wooden vessel constructed near the coast of Cox's Bazar for their planned voyage.
But the dream ended with the sinking, leaving the family facing the loss of their son, their vessel and the life they had planned at sea.
The wreckage of Island Girl remains submerged in the Bakkhali River, near the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) jetty at Nuniachhara. Albert's remains were laid to rest at a cremation ground near the river.
A difficult journey home
The three surviving family members had been staying at Motel Shaibal, operated by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, under the supervision of the Cox's Bazar district administration since the incident. Police were deployed to ensure their security.
Mahmudur Rahman, executive magistrate of the district administration's tourism cell, said the necessary procedures for the family's return had been completed and they were expected to depart for New Zealand on Friday night, provided everything went as planned.
The process was complicated by the loss of their passports and other essential documents during the boat accident. As New Zealand has no embassy in Bangladesh, the authorities coordinated with the New Zealand embassy in Sri Lanka through online and virtual communication to arrange the necessary documentation.
The family's return follows weeks of administrative and legal procedures as they dealt with the aftermath of the tragedy.
A boat built for a dream
The family's vessel, Island Girl, was constructed by joining two wooden boats and was designed for long-distance sea travel. Local resident Didarul Islam Rubel said the vessel had air-conditioned rooms, a refrigerator, a kitchen and other facilities.
Construction reportedly took around two years, with the cost estimated at more than Tk1 crore.
Local fisherman Abdur Rahman said the boat's two sections separated after being struck by large waves. One section sank quickly, followed by the other within minutes.
The vessel had been anchored in the Bakkhali River, opposite the BIWTA jetty at Nuniachhara, before it sank on 25 August.
Earlier security concerns
The family had also encountered security problems earlier this year. On the night of 8 April, they were reportedly attacked by robbers at Sonadia Island in Maheshkhali, Cox's Bazar.
In a statement issued the following day, the Coast Guard said the family had arrived in Bangladesh in 2024 intending to undertake a sea voyage around the world. After reviewing the security risks, the authorities had discouraged them from making such a journey and issued safety instructions on 1 March.
The statement also said a review of their passports at the time found that the documents had expired on 16 January 2026. Despite the safety advice, the family had remained at Sonadia with their boat when the reported attack took place.
The Coast Guard said its teams had reached the area and rescued the tourists alive.
A final farewell in Cox's Bazar
Sheikh Mohammad Ali, officer-in-charge of Cox's Bazar Sadar Model Police Station, said legal formalities and an autopsy were completed after Albert's body was recovered.
The teenager's funeral was later held at a cremation ground on the bank of the Bakkhali River in the presence of police, with permission from the family and the New Zealand authorities.
As John Edward, Bella and Ralph prepare to leave Bangladesh, the remains of Island Girl and Albert's final resting place will remain in Cox's Bazar — lasting reminders of a voyage that ended far from home.
