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| Speedboat accident: family in hospital after father and daughter killed | Speedboat accident: family in hospital after father and daughter killed |
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| Two members of a family remain in a "very poorly condition" after a speedboat accident off the Cornish coast in which a man and his eight-year-old daughter were killed. | Two members of a family remain in a "very poorly condition" after a speedboat accident off the Cornish coast in which a man and his eight-year-old daughter were killed. |
| The family appeared to lose control of the boat on Sunday afternoon and all six of them were thrown from the vessel, which apparently then circled and hit them. | The family appeared to lose control of the boat on Sunday afternoon and all six of them were thrown from the vessel, which apparently then circled and hit them. |
| A man and an eight-year-old girl were killed while four other members of the family, his 39-year-old wife, a four-year-old boy and two girls aged 10 and 12, were hurt. | A man and an eight-year-old girl were killed while four other members of the family, his 39-year-old wife, a four-year-old boy and two girls aged 10 and 12, were hurt. |
| All of the survivors were airlifted to Derriford hospital in Plymouth and were treated for a range of injuries, some of which were described as "life-changing" by the police. Devon and Cornwall police said on Monday that two of the injured remained in a "very poorly condition". | All of the survivors were airlifted to Derriford hospital in Plymouth and were treated for a range of injuries, some of which were described as "life-changing" by the police. Devon and Cornwall police said on Monday that two of the injured remained in a "very poorly condition". |
| The family, from London, had been on holiday in Cornwall over the bank holiday weekend, according to the force, and were enjoying a trip on the eight metre-long speedboat in the Camel Estuary near Padstow when the accident happened. | The family, from London, had been on holiday in Cornwall over the bank holiday weekend, according to the force, and were enjoying a trip on the eight metre-long speedboat in the Camel Estuary near Padstow when the accident happened. |
| Operators fielding 999 calls about the incident received the first from a mobile phone at 3.48pm and were inundated with further calls seconds later. | Operators fielding 999 calls about the incident received the first from a mobile phone at 3.48pm and were inundated with further calls seconds later. |
| The good weather had attracted large numbers of visitors to the coast, and dozens of witnesses saw the accident, with some telling of watching the runaway boat lock itself into a circling pattern in the water. | The good weather had attracted large numbers of visitors to the coast, and dozens of witnesses saw the accident, with some telling of watching the runaway boat lock itself into a circling pattern in the water. |
| One man told the BBC he had seen the speedboat turn sharply, throwing its occupants into the water. | One man told the BBC he had seen the speedboat turn sharply, throwing its occupants into the water. |
| "It kept going in ever decreasing circles. The screams coming from the people in the water were pretty bad," said Simon Lewins, from Wadebridge in Cornwall. | "It kept going in ever decreasing circles. The screams coming from the people in the water were pretty bad," said Simon Lewins, from Wadebridge in Cornwall. |
| Other eyewitnesses described the aftermath of the scene as looking like something out of a horror film. | Other eyewitnesses described the aftermath of the scene as looking like something out of a horror film. |
| Coastguards praised the actions of local boat-users who helped in the aftermath. One local boat skipper jumped from his own vessel into the speedboat to bring it under control. | |
| The coastguard sector manager for Cornwall, Matt Pavitt, said "incredible seamanship and bravery" had prevented other possible injuries. | The coastguard sector manager for Cornwall, Matt Pavitt, said "incredible seamanship and bravery" had prevented other possible injuries. |
| One of the issues the police and marine accident investigation branch will investigate is whether a safety cord was in use. Such cords stop the engine should the helmsperson fall overboard. Pavitt said it was too soon to say if such a cord was being used in this incident and described the engine as very powerful | One of the issues the police and marine accident investigation branch will investigate is whether a safety cord was in use. Such cords stop the engine should the helmsperson fall overboard. Pavitt said it was too soon to say if such a cord was being used in this incident and described the engine as very powerful |
| He added that hundreds of people were on the water around the river, estuary and harbour at the time of the incident and described the mood in Padstow on Monday morning as "very sombre". Pavitt appealed for anyone with images or footage of what happened to contact the police. | He added that hundreds of people were on the water around the river, estuary and harbour at the time of the incident and described the mood in Padstow on Monday morning as "very sombre". Pavitt appealed for anyone with images or footage of what happened to contact the police. |
| RNLI lifeboats from Rock, Padstow and Port Isaac, as well as search and rescue helicopters from RNAS Culdrose and RMB Chivenor, were sent to the scene. St Merryn, Newquay and Polzeath coastguard rescue teams were also involved in the operation. | RNLI lifeboats from Rock, Padstow and Port Isaac, as well as search and rescue helicopters from RNAS Culdrose and RMB Chivenor, were sent to the scene. St Merryn, Newquay and Polzeath coastguard rescue teams were also involved in the operation. |
| An area of the harbour at Padstow was cordoned off while the speedboat, a rigid inflatable vessel owned by the family, was brought in and taken away for examination. | An area of the harbour at Padstow was cordoned off while the speedboat, a rigid inflatable vessel owned by the family, was brought in and taken away for examination. |
| Superintendent Jim Colwell of Devon and Cornwall police said: "Witness accounts will form essential lines of inquiry, and we will be submitting information to the coroner's officer in due course." | Superintendent Jim Colwell of Devon and Cornwall police said: "Witness accounts will form essential lines of inquiry, and we will be submitting information to the coroner's officer in due course." |
| Earlier reports suggesting that the speedboat may have hit other vessels were later ruled out. | Earlier reports suggesting that the speedboat may have hit other vessels were later ruled out. |
| Celebrity chef Rick Stein, who has a string of restaurants in Padstow, tweeted: "Our thoughts are with injured and bereaved involved in the tragic accident in Padstow." | Celebrity chef Rick Stein, who has a string of restaurants in Padstow, tweeted: "Our thoughts are with injured and bereaved involved in the tragic accident in Padstow." |
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