A young Irish boy has died in hospital following a boating accident in the US

A young Irish boy has died in the US.

The eight-year-old passed away on Saturday at the Boston Children’s Hospital following a boating accident near the mouth of the Cape Cod Canal last Wednesday. An investigation is now underway, a spokesperson for the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office stated. "It is believed the boy had been travelling with a group on a boat when it capsized. It's understood the family are living in Massachusetts," reports RTÉ. The boy was one of four siblings. The Department Of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is assisting the family involved. The Boston Globe says that the child was under water for 24 minutes before being rescued. He was unconscious when located. It also quotes an email sent by Anne Wilson, a schools superintendent, which expressed her condolences. "Nothing compares to the grief and sadness of losing a child," Ms Wilson said. "While the family is the most impacted, many others share in the profound sadness of this tragic event."