| 30th
September : Ropes Left Hanging From Infinity Bridge In Sick Bid
To Garotte Jet Skiers On River Tees! |
|
Warped yobs have tried to
lynch jet skiers by hanging nooses from a bridge on the River Tees,
the Gazette can today reveal.
|
|
Police and river bosses
described the spate of disturbing incidents as a tragedy waiting to
happen.
|
|
Some of the ropes have been
knotted in a loop while others had heavy objects tied to the end.
|
|
All were dangled from
Stockton’s Infinity Bridge at head or neck height.
|
|
They were found hanging above
jet ski lanes - the fastest part of the Tees where riders reach speeds
of 80mph.
|
|
British Waterways river
manager Alan Slater says the ropes have been deliberately positioned
in a sick attempt to garotte jet skiers.
|
|
“We’ve had ropes with
loops in and things on the end of them,” he said, adding that if the
incidents were to end in tragedy it would be tantamount to
manslaughter.
|
|
“On that part of the river
jet skiers can go 70 to 80mph.
|
|
“Your visibility is
impaired by the spray and the conditions. The implications of it are
massive.”
|
|
The nooses have been
discovered by river staff on a number of different occasions over the
last few weeks, he added.
|
|
British Waterways is now
working with other authorities in a special stewardship scheme to
tackle vandalism and anti-social behaviour along our stretch of the
Tees.
|
|
Attempts are also being made
to engage young people in activities based around the river in a bid
to cut down on trouble.
|
|
Mr Slater said other problems
have included canoeists being pelted with stones and constant
vandalism.
|
|
Earlier this month, he told
the Gazette how lives were at risk as lifesaving equipment was being
stolen and misused on an almost daily basis.
|
|
He said lifebelts were being
taken from the riverbanks so frequently, some could not be replaced.
|
|
A number of the buoyancy aids
had simply disappeared, while others were suspended from bridges and
used as makeshift swings before being thrown into the river
|
|
“We’ve actually witnessed
times when there’s been youngsters as young as five going into the
water - and the only reason they’re going in there is because
they’ve got a life ring,” he said.
|
|
The Gazette visited the scene
and found seven empty lifebelt cases in a row.
|
|
British Waterways confirmed
that about six of its 40 cases are empty and will not be restocked.
Others on private land have also been bare for some time.
|
|
Inspector Andy Fox of
Cleveland Police said the latest spate of attempted lynchings is being
taken extremely seriously by the force.
|
|
He said: “We have had a
variety of reports regarding incidents in and around the river, from
people throwing stones from the riverbank to more serious incidents
whereby ropes have been tied from the bridge with looped ends.
|
|
“Such behaviour can
obviously have devastating consequences and we will not tolerate this.
|
|
“Rest assured anybody
causing problems in the area will be dealt with accordingly.
|
|
“We are working closely
with British Waterways to reduce anti-social behaviour in and around
the area of the River Tees.
|
|
“This multi-agency approach
is designed to ensure people can continue to have a safe and enjoyable
experience at the river and that any criminal acts are dealt with
immediately.”
|
|
GazetteLive.co.uk
|
| 29th
September : Two Injured In Jet Ski Collision! |
|
By Rory McKeown
|
|
Two jet skiers needed
hospital treatment after dramatically colliding at a Woolavington
water park on Saturday.
|
|
The collision at Middlemoor
Waterpark happened after one of the jet skis hit a wave.
|
|
A man, believed to be in his
30s, suffered back injuries while a female skier suffered a head
injury.
|
|
Both were taken to Musgrove
Park Hospital in Taunton.
|
|
Steve Cox, owner of the water
park, said:
|
|
“The emergency services
were at the scene really quickly and praised the work of our staff and
customers in the water for securing the situation.
|
|
“The guys in the water were
superb and cannot be praised enough.
|
|
“The paramedic that
attended the scene first was unable to get into the water because of
health and safety issues.
|
|
He was only doing his job but
I was worried about the casualties being in the water for so long
without treatment.”
|
|
An ambulance spokesman told
the Mercury:
|
|
“Paramedics are required to
carry out a risk assessment and balance the situation with the
patient's condition.”
|
|
ThisIsTheWestCountry.co.uk
|
| 25th
September : Jet-ski heroes 'so brave'! |
|
By James Johnston
|
|
A heartbroken mum today
thanked the brave rescuers who battled in vain to save her son after
his fatal fall from a jet ski.
|
|
Michael Scott, from
Springwell, Sunderland, died in hospital after he was pulled from the
River Wear at South Hylton.
|
|
Today, the 22-year-old's
distraught family – including mum Carole, dad Joe, 51, and brother
Mark, 26 – as well as girlfriend Michelle Eltringham, 19, said they
were still coming to terms with the tragedy and loss of a popular lad
who had a "smile for everyone".
|
|
"It has devastated us
all," said Carole. "But the support we've had from people
has been overwhelming.
|
|
"He was a popular lad.
He liked to enjoy himself and do things that lads do.
|
|
"He had been jet skiing
off and on for quite a while and also enjoyed riding off-road
motorbikes. Anything mechanical he would try, that was the type of lad
he was. He lived life to the full."
|
|
Carole, 49, also paid tribute
to those who battled to save her son, who was known as Scotty.
|
|
The former pupil at Sandhill
View School, who worked in the construction industry, was pulled from
the water by two friends, Steve Stewart and Paul Wilson, and given
emergency treatment at the scene on Sunday.
|
|
He was then taken by
paramedics to Sunderland Royal Hospital, where he later passed away.
|
|
"His friends and one of
their dads were there at the time and did everything they could to
save him," said Carole.
|
|
"His friends, Bart and
Plum, pulled him from the water. He was 6ft 2 so that must have been a
struggle. They also gave him CPR straight away.
|
|
"The fishermen there
also helped support him before the paramedics arrived. Everybody did
all they could to help."
|
|
Michael's family moved to
Sunderland in 1993 after Joe, a former corporal in the 1st Battalion
Light Infantry, had served across the UK and Europe.
|
|
Flowers and messages have
been left by the riverside at the scene of the accident, near
Claxheugh Rocks, in memory of Michael while St Mary and St Peter's
Church, in Springwell Road, is expected to be packed for his funeral
on Monday.
|
|
"We've had so much
support," said Carole.
|
|
"The number of cards
we've had has been amazing. I don't know how many visits we've had
from family, friends, neighbours and workmates, the tributes on
Facebook are very touching. We want to thank them all."
|
|
Michael's brother Mark, known
as Batesy, added: "We've all been left stunned by this. He was a
great lad."
|
|
Northumbria Police have
launched an investigation into the tragedy and a post-mortem
examination has taken place to establish the cause of death.
|
|
An inquest will take place in
due course.
|
|
A rescue mission was launched
on Sunday afternoon after Coastguard Officers received a 999 call from
a member of the public reporting that a man was face down in the Wear
after falling from his jet ski.
|
|
Sunderland RNLI launched its
B Class inshore lifeboat Wolseley, as well requesting shore-based
support from Sunderland Volunteer Life Brigade.
|
|
After receiving emergency aid
on the quayside from paramedics, Michael was transferred to Sunderland
Royal in a critical condition.
|
|
The lifeboat crew retrieved
the jet ski from the water and helped police to recover it from the
river onto a trailer before being taken away for examination by
specialist officers.
|
|
Sunderlandecho.com
|
| 24th
September : TITAN Performance Products. |
|
TITAN Performance Products is
the brain child of John Church (Loki Customs) and Martin Govan (The
Jetski Centre).
|
|
Their aim is bring to the end
user, a full range of performance enhancing and handling products for
both the recreational rider and competitor.
|
|
Britain has produced some of
the best riders in the world, in both freestyle and racing and they
feel there is a place in the World market for British designed and
manufactured products also.
|
|
TITAN Performance Products
has been in development over the last 12 months or so, formalising a
design and working prototype of their first product.
|
|
The TITAN Pole
|
|
is based on a billet design,
enhancing great ergonomics without suffering strength.
|
|
They believe that the design
they have developed integrates durability, with radical styling that
will appeal to everyone.
|
|
The TITAN Pole comes as a
complete kit,
|
|
The tube sockets constructed
of billet 6082T6 alloy and the tubes constructed of stainless steel.
All the hardware is full A4 stainless too.
|
|
There are lots of key design
features that set the TITAN Pole out from anything else that has gone
before.
|
|
TITAN Performance Products
will be bringing you quality products that will work as they are
intended.
|
|
All their products will
undergo vigorous testing before being released.
|
|
It is therefore fitting at
this point to say a huge thank you to both Ant Burgess and Dan Rowan
who have given up endless hours to help them test this pole.
|
|
Their experience as top pro
riders has been invaluable to ensure that the TITAN Pole will endure
everything that is thrown at it!
|
|
They insist 'You will NOT be
disappointed!'
|
|
A video of one of the test
sessions can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-68HdFnJT2o
|
|
Should you wish to contact
TITAN Performance Products, their email is info@titanperformanceproducts.co.uk
|
|
Contact telephone numbers are
01323 761500 / 07899997720 / 07801 469814
|
|
More products are in
development at present so watch this space……
|
|
Full details and
specification can be seen at their website...
|
|
www.titanperformanceproducts.co.uk
|
| 24th
September : BRP Expands On Water Braking System To More
Watercraft In 2010 Sea-Doo Line Up! |
|
For
2010, BRP is expanding the availability of its award-winning iControl
system, the world’s most advanced PWC technology, to the entire Sea-Doo
GTX and RXT line-ups and to the WAKE PRO 215 model.
|
|
The
iControl system features the industry’s only on-water braking
system, Intelligent Brake and Reverse (iBR).
|
|
According
to Captain Mark Rizzo, chief of the U.S. Coast Guard Office of
Auxiliary and Boating Safety, BRP earned the Boating Safety Innovation
Award because:
|
|
“The
braking capability of this new design is not just an evolutionary
improvement but a revolutionary improvement to the safety of these
vessels”.
|
|
All
Sea-Doo GTX, RXT and WAKE PRO 215 watercraft also offer BRP's
exclusive S3 hull for 2010. Meanwhile, the 2010 GTX 215 iS model
benefits from Intelligent Suspension (iS™), the world’s first and
only on-water suspension system, also found on 2010 GTX Limited iS 260
and RXT iS 260 models.
|
|
iControl,
iBR, iS and the S3 hull premiered to wide acclaimed last season when
Sea-Doo watercraft earned international recognition, including:
Watercraft of the Year, Red Dot Design Award, NNMA Innovation Award,
Best of 2009, Best Power Yacht in the Middle East and Best New
Product.
|
|
To
build on its unmatched performance legacy for 2010, BRP boosts the
power to 260 hp on its 2010 Sea-Doo GTX Limited iS 260, RXT iS 260 and
RXT-X 260* models.
|
|
With
the best power to weight ratio of any watercraft, this power boost
ensures the 2010 RXT-X 260 remains the quickest and fastest
accelerating PWC on the water while delivering the best fuel economy
in its class.
|
|
Meanwhile,
BRP introduces the all-new, customizable X-Steering with A.E.S.
(Adjustable Ergonomic Steering) and performance-monitoring X-Gauge to
its race-inspired 2010 RXT-X model.
|
|
The
Sea-Doo WAKE PRO 215 watercraft, the only PWC specifically designed
for tow sports, makes every operator an expert with its exclusive new
Ski Mode which delivers a perfect launch and cruise speed every time.
|
|
“Sea-Doo
is # 1 overall in the world in sales, market share, performance and
innovation.
|
|
By
expanding our breakthrough iControl technology to many more models for
2010, BRP is defining a Sea-Doo future for personal watercraft, making
other PWC obsolete,” said Roch Lambert, vice-president – general
manager, North American Sales & Marketing Ski-Doo/Sea-Doo/Evinrude
division.
|
|
"For
over twenty years, BRP has been committed to provide Sea-Doo PWC
riders paradigm shifting innovations that have transformed good days,
into great days" said Chris Dawson, vice-president - general
manager, International division.
|
|
"The
revolutionary iControl technology was launched to worldwide acclaim in
2009. The expanded use of this innovative technology in our 2010
line-up confirms BRP's status as the industry leader".
|
|
|
|
iCONTROL
ON 2010 SEA-DOO GTX LIMITED iS 260, GTX iS 215, GTX 155, RXT-X 260,
RXT iS 260, RXT 215 AND WAKE PRO 215
|
|
iControl
is the world's most advanced watercraft technology that seamlessly
integrates a host of new features and benefits such as Intelligent
Throttle Control (iTC) and iBR to give the rider more control than
ever before.
|
|
Exclusive
standard features enabled by iControl and found only on these 2010
models include:
|
|
New
sport/touring mode so operators can choose between sport for instant
throttle response or touring for progressive throttle response;
|
|
On-water
braking for on-demand stopping in half the distance of a conventional
PWC;
|
|
Start
in neutral to prevent the PWC from moving on start up, especially
important for docking and manoeuvring in close quarters;
|
|
Cruise
control to set and maintain a constant speed;
|
|
Slow
speed mode for the ability to adjust and set idle speed from 0 to 7
mph (0 to 10 km/h);
|
|
Learning
Key that the owner can program to limit the speed and control the
amount of acceleration, while also reducing fuel consumption.
|
|
|
|
iS
ON 2010 SEA-DOO GTX LIMITED iS 260, GTX iS 215 AND RXT iS 260
|
|
With
the first and only full marine suspension, Sea-Doo delivers the
smoothest ride on the water.
|
|
With
six inches (15 cm) of travel, the iS suspension supports the full
rider environment so the operator can stay seated while the impact
from waves is absorbed by the suspension.
|
|
The
iS suspension comes with factory set calibrations and is totally
adjustable on the fly to adapt for personal preference and changing
conditions.
|
|
|
|
S3
HULL ON 2010 SEA-DOO GTX LIMITED iS 260, GTX iS 215, GTX 155, RXT-X
260, RXT iS 260, RXT 215 AND WAKE PRO 215
|
|
The
PWC industry’s only stepped hull provides more peace of mind,
comfort and ease of use with precise, tuneable handling, a smoother,
more stable ride and effortless tight cornering.
|
|
The
stepped feature keeps the PWC glued to the water so the pump stays
hooked up, delivering maximum performance while the lighter weight
design provides the best power to weight ratio.
|
|
|
|
OVERVIEW:
2010 BRP SEA-DOO LINE-UP
|
|
BRP's
2010 Sea-Doo watercraft continue to be powered exclusively by proven
Rotax 4-TEC engines, designed and provide a decade of fun that only
Sea-Doo watercraft can deliver.
|
|
As
the first manufacturer to provide these advanced engine technology
benefits.
|
|
Sea-Doo
watercraft today are 70% quieter and 90% cleaner than pre-1998 PWC,
plus they lead the industry in performance and fuel efficiency.
|
|
All
2010 BRP Sea-Doo models also meet the California Air Resources Board (CARB)
3-star rating for ultra-low emissions, while meeting European
Community (EC) rules for low noise.
|
|
BRP's
2010 Sea-Doo line-up is the most complete in the industry with a model
for every customer need.
|
|
BYMNews.com
|
| 22nd
September : Southampton Sports Boat And RIB Show 2010
Dates Announced. |
|
Europe's
largest marina operator, MDL Marinas has announced the dates for the
Southampton Sports Boat and RIB Show 2010, which will take place
between 22nd - 23rd May at Ocean Village Marina.
|
|
After
a year's break, the weekend event looks set to return even bigger and
better than before and will be staged at Ocean Village Marina in
Southampton, where it was first hosted in 2004.
|
|
"We're
delighted to be hosting the Southampton Sports Boat & RIB Show
once again. There's extensive on-water and land exhibition space at
the marina, which will enable us to deliver an exciting range of
attractions for boating enthusiasts to enjoy.
|
|
The
marina itself also provides a natural amphitheatre for watching the
on-water displays. It's going to be an interactive event with plenty
to see and do for the whole family," says Debbie Burns, Marina
Manager, Ocean Village Marina.
|
|
The
Show will expose the boating industry to both newcomers and veterans,
with a number of interesting exhibitors along with exciting displays,
non-stop entertainment from RIB rides to Jet Ski freestyle action,
competitions and attractions for adults and children alike.
|
|
An
added attraction for the event is that it will run alongside the Ocean
Village New & Used Boat Show, which not only gives visitors access
to a great selection of sports boats and RIBs, but a vast number of
pre-owned boats, all in one location.
|
|
Ocean
Village Marina has good road and rail access for visitors and
exhibitors, on-site parking and has a dedicated team of personnel with
previous experience at holding major events such as race starts and
finishes as well as boat shows such as this.
|
|
The
marina is within close proximity to the city's restaurants, bars and
shops, and offers easy access to the Solent
|
|
www.sportsboatandribshow.co.uk
|
| 21st
September : Tributes To Jet-Ski Tragedy Victim. |
|
By Tim Booler
|
|
Touching tributes were today
paid to a man who died after falling from his jet ski into the River
Wear.
|
|
Michael Scott, from
Sunderland, got into difficulties and tried to swim to the shore.
|
|
The 22-year-old was pulled
from the water by fishermen, near Claxheugh Rocks, South Hylton, and
given emergency treatment at the scene.
|
|
He was then taken by
paramedics to Sunderland Royal Hospital, where he later died.
|
|
Michael's devastated friends
have spoken of their shock on the Internet social networking site
Facebook.
|
|
Vicki Mustard said:
"Total shock. RIP Scotty, you're gone but never forgotten, my
heart goes out to all of your family, sleep tight."
|
|
Mark Fraser wrote: "RIP
mate. Still a wicked lad and still a Thorney lad."
|
|
City police have launched an
investigation into the tragedy and appealed for witnesses to come
forward.
|
|
A rescue mission was launched
at 5.45pm yesterday after Coastguard Officers received a 999 call from
a member of the public reporting that a man was face down in the Wear
after falling from his jet ski.
|
|
Sunderland RNLI launched its
B Class inshore lifeboat Wolseley, as well as requesting shore-based
support from Sunderland Volunteer Life Brigade.
|
|
After receiving emergency aid
on the quayside from paramedics, the man was transferred to Sunderland
Royal in a critical condition.
|
|
The lifeboat crew retrieved
the jet-ski from the water and helped police to recover it from the
river before being taken away for examination by specialist officers.
|
|
"At this point in time
it is unclear what caused this rider to end up in difficulty in the
water," said Clive Fallon, Helmsman at Sunderland RNLI.
|
|
Just before 5.30pm yesterday,
volunteers from Sunderland RNLI were also called into action to help
rescue a man who had threatened to jump from cliffs at Hendon Grange.
After 45 minutes, the man was talked into climbing back to safety from
the cliff edge.
|
|
In a separate incident, a
policeman wearing a buoyancy aid swam out to help a 17-year-old
Sunderland youth who got into trouble in the Tyne next to the South
Shields ferry landing. Both were uninjured.
|
|
The full article contains 361
words and appears in Sunderland Echo newspaper.
|
|
Sunderlandecho.com
|
| 21st
September : Jetski Rider Dies After Falling Into River
Wear. |
|
By Sophie Doughty
|
|
A man has died after falling
off his jetski.
|
|
The 23-year-old was pulled
from the River Wear by passers-by after he attempted to swim to shore
following the accident last night.
|
|
But the man from Springwell,
in Sunderland, died later in hospital.
|
|
Emergency services were
called to a section of the river at Claxheugh Rock, near South Hylton
in Sunderland, at around 5.45pm.
|
|
A witness had reported seeing
a man face-down in the water after falling from a jetski, and called
the Humber Coastguard.
|
|
Sunderland RNLI’s inshore
lifeboat was launched, but by the time the crew arrived the man had
been pulled from the water by members of the public.
|
|
Helmsman Clive Fallon said:
“While we were travelling up river to the scene we were informed
that the man had been recovered from the water by fishermen.”
|
|
He was given emergency first
aid by paramedics before they took him to Sunderland Royal Hospital.
|
|
The lifeboat crew recovered
the jetski from the water and it was taken away to be examined by
police.
|
|
Mr Fallon added: “At this
point it is unclear what caused the rider to end up in difficulty in
the water.
|
|
“All of our thoughts are
with the family and friends of the rider whose day of fun on the water
ended in tragedy.”
|
|
Police are appealing for
witnesses.
|
|
A spokesman for Northumbria
Police said: “Police and other emergency services were alerted to a
man in difficulty in the River Wear, near Claxheugh Rock.
|
|
“The 23-year-old man got
into difficulty while attempting to swim back to shore having fallen
from a jetski.
|
|
“He was pulled from the
water by members of the public and taken by paramedics to Sunderland
Royal Hospital where he later died.
|
|
“Anyone who witnessed the
incident is asked to call Northumbria Police.”
|
|
They can be contacted by
telephoning 03456 043 043.
|
|
Chroniclelive.co.uk
|
| 18th
September : An Interesting Take On The PWC – But Will The
Idea Float? |
|
With personal watercraft
design evolving at what some may say is “a rate of knots”, a
rather interesting concept has come to our attention.
|
|
|
The brainchild of Spanish
designer Miguel Angel, this cross between a Jet Ski and a body board
is designed with speed and maneuverability in mind –
|
|
but does the idea have what
it takes when the going gets tough and the water gets rough?
|
|
The narrow-hulled design sees
the rider in a lying-down position, aiming to improve the aerodynamics
and speed attainable by the craft, as well as emulating the sensations
felt by traditional body boarders.
|
|
Oversized sideboards feature
to keep the rider from falling into the water while executing turns,
with smaller sideboards at the rear aiming to keep a persons legs
inside the craft.
|
|
The front of the design has
space for the rider’s arms to make turns, with a sloped chest ramp
placing the rider’s line of sight in front of the digital instrument
panel.
|
|
The concept is designed to
house motors already available for the Jet Ski market, with the
designer stating it would accommodate anything from 70hp up to 300hp -
an ambitious claim given that the design is yet to be tested on the
water.
|
|
Feasibility tests have been
conducted via software and, although a prototype has yet to be
constructed, the patent is, optimistically, for sale.
|
|
Although this type of PWC
looks like it could be a great ride on smooth water, potential
problems arise with the placement of the rider’s body in rougher
conditions.
|
|
On a regular stand up or sit
down PWC, a person’s legs traditionally cushion a lot of impact -
and they are unable to do so here.
|
|
A PWC like the Samba
demonstrates how the position of the rider gives essential leverage in
the water, which the prone position proposed here does not.
|
|
Although this design would
offer improved aerodynamics in comparison to a regular PWC, it is the
drag of the water that limits top speed as opposed to the aerodynamic
profile.
|
|
So while this concept
presents an innovative take on the PWC, it has left us a little
underwhelmed.
|
|
A design video of the body
board / Jet Ski hybrid can be seen at the link below:
|
|
Gizmag.com
|
| 17th
September : Probe To Follow Jet Ski Tragedy. |
|
By Stuart Taylor
|
|
Top-level investigations are
continuing into Saturday's tragic jet ski crash at Kilchoan which
claimed the life of a four-year-old boy and shocked the close-knit
West Lochaber community.
|
|
Caleb Cameron died in
hospital in Glasgow on Sunday, 24 hours after being struck by the jet
ski at Kilchoan Pier.
|
|
He had head injuries and was
initially treated by a nurse while a team of specialists from Glasgow
were flown to the scene.
|
|
His parents, Bert and Gael
Cameron, this week paid a moving tribute to their son. They were
nearby when the accident happened at about 2.15pm on Saturday.
|
|
Mrs Cameron said: "Caleb
was a smart, fun-loving little boy who touched the hearts of everyone
that knew him. The family are all devastated to have lost him.
|
|
"We are grateful to all
of our family and friends for their support and would like to thank
all the emergency services involved, the Southern General Hospital in
Glasgow and, in particular, the local nurse."
|
|
Kilchoan nurse Jessie
Colquhoun spent three hours trying to save Caleb before the specialist
team arrived by helicopter from Glasgow.
|
|
Caleb, who has a two-year-old
sister, Holly, was among 12 pupils and five nursery youngsters at
Kilchoan Primary School.
|
|
On Monday, his school friends
gathered for an early-morning assembly led by head teacher Lynne
McLuckie, who spoke about his death, while offering reassurance.
|
|
In a letter to parents, Ms
McLuckie expressed the great shock felt in the community at the loss
of Caleb.
|
|
She said: "It is with a
heavy heart that I write these lines about a little boy who was so
dear to us all in Kilchoan Primary School and Nursery.
|
|
"Caleb attended nursery
for over a year and every day he brought a bundle of fun and happiness
with him.
|
|
"He had a lovely sense
of humour and a sparkle in his eye, particularly when he was up to
something mischievous.
|
|
"Caleb was a happy,
polite and enthusiastic boy. He enjoyed listening to stories, music
and singing.
|
|
"He was always asking
questions, curious to know about everything and being interested in
all that was going on in the world around him.
|
|
"He always had a story
to tell and would look forward to talking about his latest
discovery."
|
|
She added: "We have
talked with the children and given them an opportunity to discuss what
has happened. This is the start of a painful process as the news
starts to sink in.
|
|
"School and nursery will
continue as normal, keeping the children busy but we will also stop
and take the time to answer their questions and support them
emotionally when they need it.
|
|
"Caleb was a credit to
our nursery and we have all been honoured and touched by knowing him
at the beginning of his short life.
|
|
"Caleb will be greatly
missed."
|
|
A Northern Constabulary
investigation into the incident is on-going, said Fort William
inspector Dougie Allan.
|
|
He said the jet ski involved
was being held by the force and will have extensive tests.
|
|
A report has been submitted
to the procurator fiscal at Fort William.
|
|
Rosemary Curtis, chairman of
West Ardnamurchan Community Council, said the community was
devastated.
|
|
"We will rally round the
family," she said.
|
|
Lochaber-news.co.uk
|
| 16th
September : Tributes To North Boy Hit By Jet Ski. |
|
By Ken Jones
|
|
Tearful children yesterday
remembered their “lovely wee classmate” who died when he was hit
by a jet ski.
|
|
The parents of four-year-old
Caleb Cameron also paid a moving tribute to their son who died on
Sunday, 24 hours after the accident which shocked the tiny community
at Kilchoan, Lochaber.
|
|
Bert and Gael Cameron were
nearby when the accident happened.
|
|
Mrs Cameron, understood to be
of Ormsaigmore, Kilchoan, said:
|
|
“Caleb was a smart,
fun-loving little boy who touched the hearts of everyone that knew
him. The family are all devastated to have lost him.
|
|
“We are grateful to all of
our family and friends for their support and would like to thank all
the emergency services involved, the Southern General Hospital in
Glasgow and the local nurse.”
|
|
Jessie Colquhoun, who has
been nurse at Kilchoan for 33 years and has known three generations of
the family, spent three hours trying to save Caleb, as they waited for
the emergency medical retrieval service, a specialist team of medics,
to arrive by helicopter from Glasgow.
|
|
Mrs Colquhoun said: “I have
known the family a long time. It is very nice of them to think of the
emergency services at a time like this.”
|
|
The remote village of
Kilchoan is an hour away from the nearest doctor at Acharacle or the
nearest ambulance at Strontian.
|
|
For this reason local nurses
at Kilchoan have an agreement to attend 999 calls in the area.
|
|
Mrs Colquhoun said: “It
helps people here to know we are prepared to do the service. I don’t
think we could live with ourselves if we didn’t.”
|
|
Caleb was among 12 pupils and
five nursery youngsters at the village primary school on the remote
Ardnamurchan peninsula.
|
|
Yesterday his school friends
gathered for an early-morning assembly led by head teacher Lynne
McLuckie, who spoke about the death, while offering reassurance.
|
|
It was followed by a period
of remembrance for a happy, polite, energetic little boy.
|
|
Ms McLuckie said: “This is
the start of a painful process as the news starts to sink in.
|
|
“School and nursery will
continue as normal, keeping the children busy but we will also stop
and take the time to answer their questions and support them
emotionally when they need it.”
|
|
In a letter to parents, Ms
McLuckie said: “It is with a heavy heart that I write these lines
about a little boy who was so dear to us all. Caleb attended nursery
for over a year and every day he brought a bundle of fun and happiness
with him.
|
|
“He had a lovely sense of
humour and a sparkle in his eye, particularly when he was up to
something mischievous.”
|
|
She went on: “Caleb was a
credit to our nursery and we have all been honoured and touched by
knowing him. Caleb will be greatly missed.”
|
|
A Northern Constabulary
investigation into the incident could take more than a week to
complete, said Inspector Dougie Allan, acting commander for the
Lochaber division.
|
|
He said the jet ski involved
in the incident was being held by the force and will have extensive
tests.
|
|
Caleb is understood to have
been on the pier at Kilchoan when the jet ski came out of the water
and struck him.
|
|
He was initially treated at
the scene by the nurse and a team of specialists and then flown to
Glasgow’s Southern General Hospital, where he died on Sunday. It is
understood the jet ski was being ridden by a friend of the family.
|
|
PressAndJournal.co.uk
|
| 14th
September : A Boy Of Four Is Killed By An Out Of Control
Jetski In The Highlands. |
|
By Myra Philp
|
|
Grieving villagers last night
spoke of their anguish after tragic four-year-old Caleb Cameron was
killed by a jetski as he played by the seaside.
|
|
The lad was struck on a pier
slipway and suffered massive head injuries when the out-of-control
high-powered vessel leapt out of the water.
|
|
He was airlifted to hospital
after the tragedy on Saturday afternoon but medics could not save him.
His heartbroken parents, who were taken to the scene by a police
officer, were at his bedside yesterday when he died at 8.30am.
|
|
Last night locals told how
the jetski's throttle had stuck and that the distraught driver knew
the little boy.
|
|
One said: "It's an
absolute tragedy. Caleb was just playing on a slipway.
|
|
"The throttle jammed on
the jetski and it went completely out of control and hit him."
|
|
One woman resident said:
"It is just awful. The man driving the jetski is a friend of the
family.
|
|
"Caleb was a wonderful
wee boy. He spoke to everyone.
|
|
"He was beautiful with
little curls in his hair.
|
|
"I cannot imagine what
his family are feeling now."
|
|
She added: "Everyone
here is in shock. There are very few jetskis round here. We rarely see
them."
|
|
The tragedy happened in the
west Highland village of Kilchoan, Lochaber, on Saturday just after
2pm.
|
|
A local nurse and an
ambulance crew stabilised Caleb at the scene for three hours until a
team of medics arrived by chopper from the Southern General Hospital
in Glasgow.
|
|
It's thought the young lad's
grandfather is the local postie and the family are well-known in the
area.
|
|
The Rev Alison Grainger said
prayers at Ardnamurchan Parish Church yesterday after news filtered
through of the young boy's death.
|
|
A spokesman for Clyde
Coastguard, which has a station close to the jetty where the accident
happened, said: "The jetski came out of the sea and onto the
slipway."
|
|
Northern Constabulary said a
report would be sent to the procurator fiscal. The jetski was taken
away by police.
|
|
They can reach speeds of up
to 65mph and drivers do not need a licence.
|
|
Dozens of swimmers worlwide
have been killed by them.
|
|
Kilchoan is in the
Ardnamurchan peninsula which sits at the farthest west point of the
mainland and is popular with families and day-trippers.
|
|
Caleb's family could not be
contacted for comment last night.
|
|
TheSun.co.uk
|
| 11th
September : Jet-Ski Prodigy Is Brit Champ. |
|
By Leon Watson
|
|
These amazing pictures show
teenage jet-ski sensation Jack Moule storming to glory as British
champion.
|
|
Daredevil Jack, 15, was the
youngest competitor in the event and the win means he betters his
stunning success at the national championships last year.
|
|
The schoolboy only started
skiing two years ago but has wiped the floor with more than 20
competitors three times his age.
|
|
He wowed judges with his
incredible range of tricks including barrel-rolls — where he forward
loops the entire machine in mid-air — and "nose stabs"
where he dives beneath the water.
|
|
The rising star will
represent Great Britain at The 2009 World Jet Ski Finals in Lake
Havasu, Arizona, US, next month.
|
|
Jack added: "I don't
think I will win as there are so many other top riders taking part
from all over the world with more powerful skis than mine.
|
|
"But I don't mind, the
experience will be amazing and just to be going with my Mum and Dad as
the British Champion is enough for me.
|
|
"Anything else would be
a bonus this year."
|
|
Proud mum Suzan Moule, 40,
said: "Jack has done so well, it's incredible seeing what he can
do on that ski.
|
|
"His best move is doing
a back flip and twizzle off the back of the machine from thirty feet
up in the air.
|
|
"It looks
fantastic."
|
|
TheSun.co.uk
|
| 10th
September : I lost My Hand In Freak Jet Ski Accident. |
|
A father of three has spoken
for the first time about losing his hand at sea during a freak
accident on a jet ski.
|
|
Chris Taylor, aged 55, from
Ivybridge, had spent a day with his friend and son in Torquay taking
it in turns to drive the machine while pulling each other round in a
rubber ring.
|
|
After a day of fun in the
water, the three were sat on the water vehicle about to head to shore
when they were hit by a huge wave.
|
|
"We started to pull
away," said the lift equipment service engineer, "and I
vaguely remember a big wave which threw us off the back."
|
|
He said he had just finished
loosely coiling some nylon rope into his hands which he was holding
when they were thrown from the vehicle.
|
|
"Somehow the rope must
have slipped around my wrist and with the weight of me falling off, it
cut my hand clean off. Nylon rope will cut," he said.
|
|
The first time he realised
what had happened was when he saw blood on his wetsuit.
|
|
"I saw blood on my
wetsuit and a second after I thought, 'where's my hand?"
|
|
"I saw it wasn't there
and grabbed at the sleeve of my wetsuit. I think it was natural
instinct to protect the end of my arm."
|
|
He said he felt no pain
during the accident which happened on the August bank holiday weekend.
|
|
"I think the adrenalin
kicked in and I felt nothing," he said. "It's amazing what
the body can do."
|
|
He added: "In some ways
it was a God send that it was nylon as it made a clean cut. I was told
this made the arteries constrict tightly so it didn't bleed so
much."
|
|
Seconds after it happened he
shouted: "I've lost my hand", to his 26-year-old son, Wayne,
who was about five metres away in the water. Chris said Wayne gave him
a funny look before he swam over with his friend.
|
|
"I tried to use my elbow
to get back onto the jet ski, but without much success," said
Chris. "God bless my son, he went under the water and launched me
up onto the seat. It must be the strength you find when something like
this happens," he added.
|
|
The trio raced back to the
slipway in Torquay Harbour where a member of the public tended to
Chris while they waited for an ambulance.
|
|
He said: "I would like
to thank that woman who helped me. I don't know her name but she did
all the right things, reassuring me and holding my arm up. Everyone
was amazing."
|
|
He added that the ambulance
crew and staff at Torbay Hospital where he stayed for four days, were
faultless.
|
|
He said it was a bonus that
it was his right hand that was lost, as he is left-handed and he has
been relieved to experience minimal pain.
|
|
"I've only really felt
some pins and needles where the nerve endings might be," he said.
|
|
Chris has had two operations
on his arm since the accident. Surgeons stitched up most of the wound
to begin with but left it partially open so it could be checked for
infection after a couple of days.
|
|
He still has stitches at the
end of his arm and is waiting for his next assessment at Derriford
Hospital. He has been told he will need to speak to a councillor and a
specialist about prosthetic limbs.
|
|
"I've got to make a
laugh and a joke about it and get on with things; that's just my way
of coping with it," he said.
|
|
"I've got to shut one
door behind me and let another open. I'm not going to sit about and
mope."
|
|
ThisisPlymouth.co.uk
|
| 3rd
September : Pembroke Slipway Closed Due To Jet-Ski
Incident. |
|
By Jess Stevenson
|
|
The closure of a popular
beach slipway to prevent jet-skiers using the bay was welcomed by
beachgoers yesterday.
|
|
It is believed that an
earlier incident involving a jet-skier on the slipway at Pembroke
prompted the Environment Department to fence it off.
|
|
Signs have now been put up
stating that it is shut until further notice to ensure public safety.
|
|
Regular beach user Ann Cluett,
60, said the slipway should have been closed sooner because
irresponsible use by some jet-skiers was putting the lives of children
at risk.
|
|
‘They should have done it
years ago. They [the vehicles] come down the beach way too fast. I’m
surprised a kiddie hasn’t been hurt.’
|
|
Mrs Cluett said she had no
objections to the jet-skiers using the beach, but they should abide by
the rules.
|
|
‘They should come down,
drop off the jet-ski and then take the vehicle back up the beach.’
|
|
Windsurfer Pip Orchard, 18,
(pictured) said the slip closure was annoying.
|
|
‘I use it a lot. There are
few beaches that are safe for windsurfing. ‘As long as the
jet-skiers are not physically hurting anyone or getting in the way,
then it [the slipway] should not be an issue,’ he said.
|
|
Guernsey Jet-Ski Association
president Jason Smith said members did not use the slipway because of
safety concerns.
|
|
‘The problem is that people
sunbathe [on the slipway] and by going up and down with jeeps, people
can get upset.
|
|
‘Even though we could use
it, we don’t because of the safety aspect.’
|
|
ThisIsGuernsey.com
|
| 1st
September : Darren's Jet Ski Dream Takes Off. |
|
By Natasha Agombar
|
|
A teenage jet skier is on the
crest of a wave - less than a year after turning professional.
|
|
Adrenaline junkie Darren
Sedge, 18, is preparing for the summer season finals of the Jet Sport
Racing Association British Championships in Milton Keynes this
weekend.
|
|
He will be competing
alongside the likes of 18-year-old Lee Stone - his mentor and sponsor
- who is a four times world champion.
|
|
Yet despite jet skiing since
the age of 13, the Great Notley teenager only got into the competitive
side of the sport last year.
|
|
Darren, of Highclere Road,
said:
|
|
"My dad put the idea
into my head. First of all we saw a freestyle jet ski show in
Portsmouth and my dad then wanted to get a Yamaha SuperJet for fun. He
started riding that and I figured I was getting better than the
average person on a jet ski."
|
|
After that, the teenager -
who studied construction at Colchester Sixth Form - was persuaded to
get into competitions by Lee.
|
|
He came second in last year's
JSRA British winter championships and is now in the professional
league.
|
|
"It's pretty much my job
now. I did construction at college. When I was at college, jet skiing
was kind of second but now it's taken over. I have got my own jet ski
parts business going too," said Darren, who originally wanted to
get into surveying and project management.
|
|
Darren, who lives with
parents Peter and Vanessa and has a brother, Jason, 21, specialises in
freestyle and can do tricks including a barrel roll of 360 degrees and
a back flip.
|
|
He trains every day at London
Docklands with his friend Vaclav Zacek, another jet ski champion, and
goes to the gym every night.
|
|
"I love the sport. I
feel I have come a long way in such a short period of time. It's not
even been a year.
|
|
"I love the people you
meet as well - I've got some great sponsors behind me," said
Darren, a former pupil at Notley High School and Whitecourt Primary
School."
|
|
BraintreeAndWithamTimes.co.uk
|
