One student was killed and five others injured when a lifeboat fell due to a broken steel cable, hitting six students of a training class at Guangzhou Ocean Shipping Technical School on Thursday.

Twenty-eight male students majoring in sailing were attending the class to practice lowering and raising lifeboats when the 1-metric-ton boat fell from more than 2 meters above the ground, Southern Metropolis Daily reported.

The injured students, all aged between 18 and 20, were taken to a hospital for treatment, where one died. Another is in critical condition.

The students had practiced the same procedure several times before the accident. The school is affiliated with China Shipping (Group) Co.

The authorities have started an investigation into the case.