A SKIPPER said he felt "light-headed" and lost his vision moments before ploughing into a buoy, a court heard.

Seadogz skipper, Michael Lawrence, told a jury he had "felt a little bit, maybe light-headed" just before the crash near Netley. 

The RIB (rigid inflatable boat) he was driving collided with a metal buoy in Southampton Water killing 15-year-old Emily Lewis.

Lawrence said he "certainly wouldn't put the passengers at risk" and that, prior to the crash in August 2020, he'd been driving that boat for around seven years.

"All I can remember was that I came around the turn, and straightened the boat up," he told Winchester Crown Court. 

"I felt a little bit, maybe light-headed. Then I lost my vision. It was a split second.

"As I pulled the throttles back, I heard a thud.

"When I next have a memory, everything changes. There were people everywhere."

READ MORE: Emily Lewis speedboat crash trial: Recap as defence case opens

People were thrown into the water during the crash, with the former RNLI crew member attempting to get them back on the vessel.

When he returned to shore, he told health professionals, police and family that his Covid face mask had blown over his eyes. 

But giving evidence yesterday, he admitted: "As time's gone on, it doesn't make sense.

"I don't know what happened. I just want to find out.

"I saw the face mask floating in the water. I made the assumption that is what had happened."

Prosecuting, Christine Agnew KC suggested the 55-year-old had not been paying attention and was "distracted" and "fiddling" with the mask. 

Lawrence denied this having said earlier that he "didn't believe anything [he] was doing was unsafe".

"I gave [buoys] what I thought was a safe distance. At no point was I trying to nick the buoys or go close to them."

READ MORE: Emily Lewis: Father tells of Southampton Water fatal crash

Ms Agnew added that he had gone above 40 knots.

"You didn't need to go at that speed in order to give the passengers the thrill ride they had signed up for," she said.

After the crash, Lawrence applied for his licence back.

Lawrence, of Hartsgrove Avenue, Blackfield, denies manslaughter by gross negligence, failing to maintain a proper lookout and failing to proceed at a safe speed.

Seadogz owner, Michael Howley, 52, of Stopples Lane, Hordle, denies failing to take all reasonable steps to ensure the RIB was operated in a safe manner. 

The trial continues.

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