Speedboats, kayaks, and a close call! A young kayaker faced a terrifying experience on a sunny afternoon on the River Cleddau when a speedboat, White Mischief, knocked him into the water and ran right over him. The court heard Adam Russell, the speedboat skipper, was doing 25mph and had six passengers on board. The speed limit? Less than that!
This stretch of river is a hotspot for water sports, so everyone should be keeping an eye out, especially the person steering the boat! Unfortunately, Russell was sitting down, his vision blocked by the bow of his speedboat, and there was no lookout on duty. The kayaker, a 14-year-old teen, was enjoying a day out with his dad when tragedy nearly struck. Despite his quick attempts to paddle away, the boat changed course and hit him, leaving him with cuts, bruises, and a fear of returning to the water.
It was pure luck that the situation wasn’t worse. In court, we heard how the teen could hear engines above him when he was submerged — a chilling memory for him and his dad, who still struggles to sleep.
Russell admitted his mistakes and pleaded guilty to multiple offences including failing to maintain a lookout. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, and must complete 200 hours of unpaid work. He’ll also pay £1,676 in compensation to the victim and £3,000 towards prosecution costs. The court used new safety laws to bring the case forward, underlining just how serious the authorities are about keeping our waterways safe.
This incident is a wake-up call: our rivers aren’t playgrounds, and safety comes first. Stay alert, safe, and keep an eye out on those waters! 🌊⚠️ #StaySafe #RiverSafety #CloseCall