Could This Accident Have Been Prevented?
On 5 May 2013, a devastating RIB accident on the Camel Estuary near Padstow, Cornwall, changed the lives of an entire family forever.
Victoria Milligan was enjoying a family outing aboard an 8-metre RIB powered by a 300 hp outboard when tragedy struck. Travelling at high speed with six people on board, two adults and four children, the boat suddenly ejected its occupants into the water.
What followed was catastrophic. The unmanned RIB continued at speed, circling back and striking the people in the water multiple times.
Victoria’s husband, Nick, and their eight-year-old daughter, Emily, lost their lives. Victoria herself suffered life-changing injuries and ultimately lost her left leg below the knee. Two other family members were seriously injured.
The subsequent investigation by the Royal Yachting Association and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch found that the engine emergency stop lanyard, commonly known as the kill cord, had not been attached to the driver.
As a result, the engine continued running after the occupants were thrown overboard.
Reflecting on the aftermath, Victoria said:
“I now tick boxes I could never have imagined: widow, trauma victim, amputee and bereaved mother.”
The accident remains one of the most powerful reminders of why wearing a kill cord is essential whenever operating a high-performance powerboat or RIB.
A simple action that takes only seconds can prevent a vessel from becoming an uncontrolled and potentially deadly hazard.
The engine cut-out ‘kill cord’ mechanism was not activated as it had not been attached to the driver.
The above-mentioned MAIB report once again confirms that in the event of a fatal accident, an extensive investigation follows with all possible parties involved (seller of the boat, sailing school, constructor, etc.).
Out of respect the dramatic footage is not shown.
Over the years I’ve published a lot of posts regarding safety. You can find them all here.
Out of respect for all rescue teams, I devoted several articles to them.
This is a very sobering account of a terrible accident which occurred “completely out of the blue” I am a kayaker and never paddle without a buoyancy aid – even on the local canal. In 40 years of paddling I have seen people take the most crazy risks thinking I suppose that nothing bad will ever happen to them. This story just shows what can happen in an instant. Particularly on the sea it is good to be humble and take nothing for granted
Hi Ian
Thank you for your appreciated reaction. I couldn’t agree more. Never take the sea for granted. She rules always.
I read the MAIB and it was just a single lapse of concentration with terrible consequences. Few of is can claim to have never done something similar. As an RYA instructor with decades of powerboat driving, I, of course, knew what happens when an uncontrolled outboard gets loose but I’d never before seen it. The film is gruesome but a salutory lesson to us all. I hope the family will take comfort from the fact that the rest of is learn the lesson and let it be shown. My best wishes to them.
Lindsay, thank you or your thoughts. Still in many promo videos of motorboats skippers seldom wear the kill cord, let alone a life jacket. When I interact, they say that it’s not mandatory in their country and that they have many years of experience.
I also often see that those on board wear life jackets, except for the skipper. He must be untouchable ….
What a wonderful lady. xxx ALWAYS ALWAYS use a kill cord.
No doubt about that!