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Inquest resumes into Gloucester girl's speedboat death Inquest resumes into Gloucester girl's speedboat death
(35 minutes later)
An inquest jury has watched a webcam video of a 14-year-old girl heading out on a speedboat trip moments before it capsized leaving her trapped beneath it.An inquest jury has watched a webcam video of a 14-year-old girl heading out on a speedboat trip moments before it capsized leaving her trapped beneath it.
Emily Gardner was a passenger on the vessel, which had just left Brixham, south Devon, last May. Within seconds of passing a breakwater the 5 metre-long (18ft) boat capsized. Emily was trapped by her buoyancy aid to a cleat at the back of the boat, which sank beneath the 1.1m (3.5ft) waves. Emily Gardner was a passenger on the vessel, which had just left Brixham, south Devon, last May. Within seconds of passing a breakwater the 5 metre-long (18ft) boat capsized. Emily was trapped by her buoyancy aid to a cleat at the back of the boat, which sank beneath the 1.1 metre (3.5ft) waves.
At a packed inquest hearing in Torquay, Devon, on Tuesday family members, including her parents Clive and Deborah, wept as they watched the 15-minute video of the boat launch and the rescue attempt.At a packed inquest hearing in Torquay, Devon, on Tuesday family members, including her parents Clive and Deborah, wept as they watched the 15-minute video of the boat launch and the rescue attempt.
They also saw as the lifeboat crew carried Emily off the lifeboat to a waiting ambulance on the public slipway. The senior Torbay coroner, Ian Arrow, had warned the 11 jurors that the video was “extremely stressful”.They also saw as the lifeboat crew carried Emily off the lifeboat to a waiting ambulance on the public slipway. The senior Torbay coroner, Ian Arrow, had warned the 11 jurors that the video was “extremely stressful”.
The inquest heard she had been a passenger in the speedboat owned by Paul Pritchard and Philip Marr. Marr was on a jetski in front of the boat, which was driven by 50-year-old Pritchard. A second jetski was being ridden by Marr’s son, Luke Holland-Bowyer.The inquest heard she had been a passenger in the speedboat owned by Paul Pritchard and Philip Marr. Marr was on a jetski in front of the boat, which was driven by 50-year-old Pritchard. A second jetski was being ridden by Marr’s son, Luke Holland-Bowyer.
Aboard the speedboat was Holly Pritchard and Gemma Gadsden, two 15-year-old friends who managed to swim clear of the upturned hull.Aboard the speedboat was Holly Pritchard and Gemma Gadsden, two 15-year-old friends who managed to swim clear of the upturned hull.
The investigating officer, DS Andrew Turner, told the hearing there had been a full inquiry into what happened and no criminal charges were brought as a result of the investigation.The investigating officer, DS Andrew Turner, told the hearing there had been a full inquiry into what happened and no criminal charges were brought as a result of the investigation.
The inquest was told that attempts were made to resuscitate Emily for 80 minutes but she was very cold and had suffered a cardiac arrest.The inquest was told that attempts were made to resuscitate Emily for 80 minutes but she was very cold and had suffered a cardiac arrest.
Taylor said the two jetskis in their party had been at the front and rear of the boat when it “encountered a wave and overturned”. He said: “Her buoyancy aid got caught in the rear cleat in the upturned boat.”Taylor said the two jetskis in their party had been at the front and rear of the boat when it “encountered a wave and overturned”. He said: “Her buoyancy aid got caught in the rear cleat in the upturned boat.”
The officer described the waves as “significant”. He told the jury as they watched the dramatic rescue attempt: “You can get some idea of the sea conditions – not white horses but clearly there is a swell.”The officer described the waves as “significant”. He told the jury as they watched the dramatic rescue attempt: “You can get some idea of the sea conditions – not white horses but clearly there is a swell.”
The Torbay lifeboat and an inshore lifeboat were launched within 23 minutes of the capsize. A crane aboard the man lifeboat was used to pull the submerged speedboat from the sea – and Emily was cut free and rushed to hospital where she died. The Torbay lifeboat and an inshore lifeboat were launched within 23 minutes of the capsize. A crane aboard the lifeboat was used to pull the submerged speedboat from the sea – and Emily was cut free and rushed to hospital where she died.
Jurors were told the boat was 26 years old and had been bought by the joint owners on eBay for £1,800 in 2014 and it had been serviced a couple of months before the tragedy. Jurors were told the boat was 26 years old and had been bought by the joint owners on eBay for £1,800 in 2014. It had been serviced a couple of months before the tragedy.
The coroner told the jury that “no one or any organisation was on trial here” and they were not to rule on “liability or apportion blame”.The coroner told the jury that “no one or any organisation was on trial here” and they were not to rule on “liability or apportion blame”.
Emily, from the Gloucester area, died in Torbay hospital. The inquest heard the cause of death was drowning. She was described as a good swimmer.Emily, from the Gloucester area, died in Torbay hospital. The inquest heard the cause of death was drowning. She was described as a good swimmer.
The hearing continues.The hearing continues.