Coroner urges changes after fatal speedboat crash

Emily Lewis was on a day out with her family when the crash happened

A coroner has called for changes to regulations covering aquatic thrill rides following a speedboat crash that killed a 15-year-old girl.

Emily Lewis suffered fatal injuries when the rigid inflatable boat (Rib) she was riding in collided with a navigation buoy in Southampton Water in August 2020.

At the Winchester inquest, assistant coroner Henry Charles recorded a narrative conclusion.

He raised concerns about the skipper's lack of visibility from the helm at the rear of the craft, and the fact that the skipper had no an additional crew member to keep watch.

The teenager, from Park Gate, Hampshire, was on a "high thrills" ride with her parents and sister on 22 August 2020 on board the Rib Seadogz.

Investigators found the Rib, carrying a total of 12 people, hit the 4.5m-high channel marker at nearly 37 knots (43mph).

Emily Lewis was thrown forward from a bench seat and died from upper abdominal injuries, the hearing was told.

The coroner said: "The skipper lost positional awareness in the moments before the accident.

"This was most likely due to a combination of being desensitised to the risks of the high-speed Rib operations and high mental workload of operating Seadogz alone."

The craft hit the channel marker at nearly 37 knots (43mph)

Mr Charles also highlighted issues over seating, handholds and the company's risk assessment, which he described as "cursory and generic".

Seadogz had been involved in three previous similar accidents, the inquest heard.

The coroner said he would send a Prevention of Future Deaths Report to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Secretary of State for Transport and other agencies.

He said existing regulations for the maritime industry were "complex and subject to interpretation".

The coroner raised concerns about seating and handholds

Michael Lawrence, 55, who was driving the boat, was previously found not guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence, but guilty of failing to maintain a proper lookout and failing to proceed at a safe speed.

Michael Howley, 52, the owner of the now defunct Seadogz, which ran the boat trips, was convicted of not operating the boat safely.

They were both sentenced at Winchester Crown Court in March 2023 to 18 weeks in custody suspended for two years and were ordered to carry out community service.

Following the inquest, Emily's parents, Simon and Nikki, and sister Amy, said: "We are disappointed that the coroner did not come to a conclusion of unlawful killing but we appreciate his narrative describes the appalling events of August 22 2020 in great detail.

"Mr Lawrence has never truly faced justice for his actions and once again he has failed to properly accept and acknowledge his role in the death of our beloved daughter, Emily.

"We are, however, encouraged that the coroner has identified lessons to be learned to prevent something like this happening again."

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "This is a tragic incident, and our thoughts remain with Emily's loved ones.

"The Transport Secretary will await the coroner's letter and respond in the appropriate manner in due course."