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Owner of Duck Boat involved in deadly incident: 'It shouldn't have been in the water'

Owner of Duck Boat involved in deadly incident: 'It shouldn't have been in the water'
Posted at 5:13 AM, Jul 20, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-20 12:23:53-04

BRANSON, Missouri — The owner of a company that operates the Duck Boat that was involved in a deadly incident near Branson, Missouri says it should never have been in the water.

That incident left 17 people dead after the boat capsized during high waves and heavy winds Thursday night on Table Rock Lake. The boat is now at the bottom of the lake.

Jim Pattison Jr., the president of Ripley Entertainment, which owns the duck boat tour company told "CBS This Morning" that it is "absolutely devastating".

"It was a fast-moving storm..that basically came out of nowhere," Pattison said. 

"I don't have all the details, but to answer your question, no, it shouldn't have been in the water if what happened happened," Pattison said when a CBS News reporter asked why the boat was operating in bad weather.

The owner of the company went on to say the attraction has been operating for 47 years and the captain of the boat had 16 years of experience.