A teenager's death in a speedboat crash was a 'tragedy for society,' a coroner has said.
Emily Lewis, 15, died when the speedboat she was on collided with a buoy, Winchester Coroner's Court was told.
She suffered an upper abdominal injury in the 36.6 knot crash on Southampton Water in August 2020.
Coroner Henry Charles today returned a narrative conclusion into her death following a two-day hearing that came after criminal proceedings.
He said he would be writing to the transport secretary about the case. He pointed to the lack of visibility for the skipper from the helm which was based at the rear of the craft and the fact that the skipper was operating the Rib alone without an additional crew member to keep watch.
He said this went against the recommendations of the Small Commercial Vessels (SCV) Code.
Speaking to Emily's family at the inquest conclusion, Mr Charles said: "I would like to express my condolences to you all.
"Emily was clearly a lovely, kind young lady.
"Her death was not only a tragedy to you, I think it was a tragedy for society.
"Her kindness and thoughtfulness for others would have been put to the good use of society had she lived."
As reported, Emily was on a rigid inflatable boat operated by Seadogz when the crash happened.
Skipper Michael Lawrence did not realise how close the buoy was but could see it for 14 seconds, the inquest heard.
Lawrence, of Hartsgrove Avenue, Blackfield, was this year cleared of manslaughter but was convicted of failing to maintain a proper lookout and a safe speed during the crash that killed Emily.
Michael Howley, of Deer Park Close, New Milton, who owned Seadogz, was convicted of failing to secure that a ship is operated in a safe manner.
Coroner Mr Charles said Lawrence's decision to drive in the wash of the Red Falcon car ferry five times contributed to the accident.
He added that that this decision “impeded his ability to co-ordinate the emergency steps”.
Emily died after the Rib skippered by Mr Lawrence crashed into the North West Netley buoy in Southampton Water on August 22, 2020.
She sustained serious injuries and later died in Southampton General Hospital.
In his ruling, Mr Charles said: "I find the skipper did not become aware of the proximity of the buoy to take avoiding action.
"There was some 14 seconds of visibility available to the skipper.
"Emily Lewis sustained fatal injuries when she struck the handhold in front of her on impact.
“Was what happened on that day as committed by the skipper truly and exceptionally bad, and so reprehensible to justify the conclusion intro gross negligence?
"I cannot find what happened here is in the boundaries of unlawful killing.”
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said the buoy into which the Rib crashed, was visible to Mr Lawrence for 14 seconds before impact.
Giving a narrative conclusion in the inquest, the coroner read from the conclusions of the MAIB report.
He said: “The first conclusion says ‘Seadogz hit the North-West Netley buoy because its skipper did not become aware of its proximity in sufficient time to take avoiding action’.
“I find this was undoubtedly increased by his mental workload as the only skipper.”
Mr Charles ended his conclusion by confirming that he will be writing to transport secretary Louise Haigh, the Maritime and Coastguard Association, and the Royal Yacht Association with the findings from the MAIB.
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