'Will may have been found sooner with a lifejacket'

William Blake lost his life along with his friend when their boat hit a navigation marker last month

The fiancé of a man who died following a boat crash has said his body may have been found more quickly had he been wearing a lifejacket.

William Blake, 61, from Portsmouth, and a friend died after their boat hit a navigation marker near Tipner on 14 August. Another man in his 50s survived.

Mr Blake's partner Kala Kilshaw said she went through a "harrowing" five-day wait while the search effort was carried out, as she still had hope he could be found alive.

But she believes that wait could have been prevented and wants to raise awareness about the importance of wearing lifejackets.

"It wouldn't have saved his life but it would have meant that his body was recovered much sooner," she said.

"I kept convincing myself that he's such a strong swimmer, he would have understood the tide.

"Loads of the neighbours came with torches, the helicopters, the boys turning up on their jet skis.

"They pulled up at the bottom of the garden and said 'we'll bring him home' but by that time we knew we were going to be recovering his body."

Ms Kilshaw said she has now designed a lifejacket in Mr Blake's name and launched a campaign called "Lives WILL be saved".

Kala Kilshaw wants to raise awareness about the importance of wearing lifejackets

She said all funds raised would support the local charity and community boat, Free Spirit, which is a project he was due be involved with.

Ms Kilshaw is also planning to tour the region to help educate people about the importance of wearing lifejackets and how they could save others from enduring the same pain she has.

She said she wanted people to realise that "wearing a lifejacket is like wearing a seatbelt in a car".

"When I feel emotional, scared about the future and sad about the accident, it drives me to try and prevent other people feeling like this," she said.

"Willy was my best friend and I know it would make him so proud."

A memorial service is also due to be held at Portsmouth Cathedral on 2 October.