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| Padstow speedboat crash: 'Kill cord' key to inquiry | Padstow speedboat crash: 'Kill cord' key to inquiry |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police investigating the deaths of a father and his daughter in a speedboat accident in Cornwall have said a "kill cord" device is a key focus. | Police investigating the deaths of a father and his daughter in a speedboat accident in Cornwall have said a "kill cord" device is a key focus. |
| A kill cord attaches to the boat's throttle and driver so if the driver goes overboard the engine cuts out. | A kill cord attaches to the boat's throttle and driver so if the driver goes overboard the engine cuts out. |
| BSkyB sales boss Nick Milligan, 51, and his eight-year-old daughter Emily were thrown from the boat in the Camel Estuary, off Padstow, on Sunday. | BSkyB sales boss Nick Milligan, 51, and his eight-year-old daughter Emily were thrown from the boat in the Camel Estuary, off Padstow, on Sunday. |
| Four other family members struck by the boat were taken to hospital. | Four other family members struck by the boat were taken to hospital. |
| Police said Mr Milligan's 39-year-old wife Victoria and their four-year-old son Kit remain in hospital with "serious, potentially life-changing injuries", while their two other daughters Amber, 12, and Olivia, 10, suffered minor injuries in the accident. | Police said Mr Milligan's 39-year-old wife Victoria and their four-year-old son Kit remain in hospital with "serious, potentially life-changing injuries", while their two other daughters Amber, 12, and Olivia, 10, suffered minor injuries in the accident. |
| The family are from Wandsworth in South West London. | The family are from Wandsworth in South West London. |
| 'Much-loved pupil' | 'Much-loved pupil' |
| Adrian Floyd, the headmaster of Finton House School in Tooting, said Emily was a "bright, lively and much-loved Year 4 pupil". | |
| He said the family had a "long and close" association with the school, which was also attended by Emily's brother and one of her sisters. | He said the family had a "long and close" association with the school, which was also attended by Emily's brother and one of her sisters. |
| Mr Milligan was one of the school governors and had been managing director of Sky's advertising sales division, Sky Media, since 2004. | Mr Milligan was one of the school governors and had been managing director of Sky's advertising sales division, Sky Media, since 2004. |
| The injured family members were hit by the 8m (26ft)-long Cobra rigid inflatable boat (rib) - which can reach speeds of about 50mph (80km/h) - while it was going round in circles. | The injured family members were hit by the 8m (26ft)-long Cobra rigid inflatable boat (rib) - which can reach speeds of about 50mph (80km/h) - while it was going round in circles. |
| The boat was stopped after a local waterskiing instructor Charlie Toogood jumped on board. | The boat was stopped after a local waterskiing instructor Charlie Toogood jumped on board. |
| Mr Toogood, 32, a former RNLI crew member, has been described as a "hero" for his actions. | Mr Toogood, 32, a former RNLI crew member, has been described as a "hero" for his actions. |
| He said: "There were many 'heroes' in this tragic incident, all of whom did a remarkable job in difficult circumstances. | He said: "There were many 'heroes' in this tragic incident, all of whom did a remarkable job in difficult circumstances. |
| "However, now is a time solely to reflect on the bereaved and injured family members and their wider family and friends. | "However, now is a time solely to reflect on the bereaved and injured family members and their wider family and friends. |
| "My thoughts are with all of them and will be for a long time to come." | "My thoughts are with all of them and will be for a long time to come." |
| Matt Pavitt, coastguard sector manager for North Cornwall, said: "Without doubt, without [Mr Toogood's] intervention, we could have been dealing with a far more serious situation." | Matt Pavitt, coastguard sector manager for North Cornwall, said: "Without doubt, without [Mr Toogood's] intervention, we could have been dealing with a far more serious situation." |
| Fitting the kill cord has been standard practice by manufacturers for many years, said Richard Falk, training manager and chief examiner at the Royal Yachting Association (RYA). | Fitting the kill cord has been standard practice by manufacturers for many years, said Richard Falk, training manager and chief examiner at the Royal Yachting Association (RYA). |
| "It is possible for the operator, the driver of the boat, to connect the kill cord to the throttle so the engine will work but they don't connect it to themselves. | "It is possible for the operator, the driver of the boat, to connect the kill cord to the throttle so the engine will work but they don't connect it to themselves. |
| "If they then move away from that throttle or steering position the engine won't cut out," he said. | "If they then move away from that throttle or steering position the engine won't cut out," he said. |
| He said he could not comment on the Padstow incident, but where a kill cord was not operating properly and a driver went overboard the prospect of a power boat turning in circles as it did in the Padstow tragedy was a rare "worst-case scenario". | He said he could not comment on the Padstow incident, but where a kill cord was not operating properly and a driver went overboard the prospect of a power boat turning in circles as it did in the Padstow tragedy was a rare "worst-case scenario". |
| Supt Jim Colwell, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said a mechanical examination of the boat had taken place, carried out by forensic experts and Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) inspectors, to identify the cause of the "sad and tragic" incident. | Supt Jim Colwell, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said a mechanical examination of the boat had taken place, carried out by forensic experts and Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) inspectors, to identify the cause of the "sad and tragic" incident. |