A tragic incident involving the death of a 15-year-old girl named Emily Lewis in a speedboat crash has led to calls for an overhaul of regulations for high-speed thrill rides. The coroner, Henry Charles, highlighted several issues raised by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) during the inquest into the crash. These issues included the lack of visibility for the skipper, inappropriate seating and handholds for passengers, and a cursory risk assessment by the company operating the Rib.
Mr. Charles emphasized that the skipper’s loss of positional awareness was likely due to being desensitized to the risks of high-speed operations and the mental workload of operating the Rib alone. He also noted that previous similar accidents involving the company had not led to lessons being learned, making the events of August 22, 2020, an “accident waiting to happen.” The coroner described the current regulations for the maritime industry as a “patchwork” that is complex and open to interpretation.
In response to these concerns, Mr. Charles announced that he would be writing to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), the Secretary of State for Transport, and other regulatory agencies to address the lack of appropriate standards and oversight in the sector. The MAIB had previously raised concerns about the sector’s regulations and lack of implementation of recommendations.
Although the skipper was found guilty of failing to maintain a proper lookout and failing to proceed at a safe speed, Emily’s family had hoped for a conclusion of unlawful killing. They expressed disappointment that justice had not been fully served but appreciated the coroner’s detailed narrative of the events leading to Emily’s tragic death. The family stated that they miss Emily every day but find solace in the hope that lessons will be learned to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The MAIB investigator, Captain Emma Tiller, revealed that the Rib involved in the crash was fully certified and was conducting a thrill ride for passengers at high speeds. The route taken by the Rib involved close passes of buoys and crossing the wake of a ferry, leading to the fatal collision with a buoy at high speed.
In response to the tragedy, a Department for Transport (DfT) spokesperson expressed condolences to Emily’s family and stated that the Transport Secretary would await the coroner’s letter before responding appropriately. The incident has highlighted the need for stricter regulations and oversight in the maritime industry to prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future.
