Jetski kills boy
- Thread starter rhumlady
- Start date
monkfish24
Well-Known Member
Such a shame, why don't these people realise that they are more dangerous to other water worshippers than anything else.
I think there should be a law stating that within a certain distance of the shore, say 50-100m, thier speed is to be kept to say 2-3 knots.
I think there should be a law stating that within a certain distance of the shore, say 50-100m, thier speed is to be kept to say 2-3 knots.
Judders
Well-Known Member
With the greatest of respect, and deep sorrow, might I point out that the jet-ski did not kill anyone. The operator thereof may have done, unless there was a technical fault?
johnalison
Well-Known Member
Yes, like the ubiquitous "his car left the road"
sarabande
Well-Known Member
Devastating for the young boy's family; it's hard to see how the jetski-er can be held blameless, though. S/he must be feeling very grim indeed.
Searush
Well-Known Member
This could easily develop into another thread where we all say I wouldn't do that . . . F'rinstance, I'm not sure I would be happy to leave my 4year old grandson on a jetty (in or out of the water) unless I, or a parent, were holding his hand. The adult might then be more aware of the danger of a fast approaching jetski & move him away. But we have few facts to work on, so I won't say it 
monkfish24
Well-Known Member
I'm not really sure what this is meant to mean except for the obvious.....
My post wasn't a rant at jet ski's, it was a point made out in the fact that when you are travelling at very high speeds, reaction distances are greatly reduced which may have been factor, it may not have, i don't know from the very limited information. I have no real hatred of jet ski's i just wish some of the less trained with what seems to be sometimes very little common sense, operators of these vehicles were more aware of what they were actually capable of and where there limits are on these machines. Yes they are fun, and yes they are quite impressive when you are on them but i'm aware of what it entails to be on the sea, and i drove it on the same basis of if i was in control of a much larger MoBo. But a lot of people don't think like me.
Romeo
Well-Known Member
I suspect that four year olds in Ardnamurchan get a bit more freedom than they do in other parts of the country. This will not be an especially busy slipway. No doubt however the poor family will be blaming themselves to some extent, along with all the other horrible emotions we all hope we will never have to go through.
The problem with jetskiers is they don't seem to be able to function without an audience, therefore they love to do their stuff where it will be most danger and annoyance to others.
**sympathy icon**
D
Deleted member 36384
Guest
This is very tragic and sad that such an innocent life lost in this pointless manner.
Today on the visitors moorings at Millport, Firth of Clyde, two separate high speed passes through the moorings. One jet ski was incredibly fast. I consider this ignorance by the user on the potential consequences of his actions or deliberate risk taking.
After all there is plenty of room in the Firth of Clyde.
Today on the visitors moorings at Millport, Firth of Clyde, two separate high speed passes through the moorings. One jet ski was incredibly fast. I consider this ignorance by the user on the potential consequences of his actions or deliberate risk taking.
After all there is plenty of room in the Firth of Clyde.
webcraft
Well-Known Member
A tragedy
.
EDIT According to information now appearing further down this thread the driver of the jetski knew the boy and claims the throttle stuck open. I have therefore withdrawn my initial comment and will wait for the official verdict from the police, courts and MAIB before commenting any further.
However, I stick by my original comment that Kilchoan is a beautiful, peaceful spot - it doesn't need jetskiers. People choose to bring their kids up in places like that for all the right reasons, then something like this happens. Tragic.
- W
.
EDIT According to information now appearing further down this thread the driver of the jetski knew the boy and claims the throttle stuck open. I have therefore withdrawn my initial comment and will wait for the official verdict from the police, courts and MAIB before commenting any further.
However, I stick by my original comment that Kilchoan is a beautiful, peaceful spot - it doesn't need jetskiers. People choose to bring their kids up in places like that for all the right reasons, then something like this happens. Tragic.
- W
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s/v moondancer
Active Member
People do not realize that once you cut the power you loose all steering but still have considerable momentum. I saw a teenager smash her head into a dock as she paniced when she got too close to it. She died!
crazybass
New Member
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.
Powerful ... a jetski like the one that hit Caleb
"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.
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.
Powerful ... a jetski like the one that hit Caleb
"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.
Observer
Well-Known Member
I trust that the ASSes who ASSumed the driver MUST be at fault will now regret jumping to hasty and unfounded conclusions.
monkfish24
Well-Known Member
i'm an ass apparently
why should i regret what i wrote? I clearly stated that i didn't know the circumstances surrounding the event. It is tragic and there's no doubt about it. I still stand with common sense that if a limit was imposed around 50 metres from the shore it may have given the operator enough time to realise there was a fault and to save him and the many people in the community the grief they are suffering.
why should i regret what i wrote? I clearly stated that i didn't know the circumstances surrounding the event. It is tragic and there's no doubt about it. I still stand with common sense that if a limit was imposed around 50 metres from the shore it may have given the operator enough time to realise there was a fault and to save him and the many people in the community the grief they are suffering.
doug748
Well-Known Member
"The throttle had stuck"
Oh aye
Oh aye
sarabande
Well-Known Member
no time to use the red cord to cut the power ? I've no doubt the Fiscal's report will be comprehensive and thorough.
crazybass
New Member
That was what I was going to say
sighmoon
Well-Known Member
Are you saying the stuck throttle means it was not the driver's fault? I disagree.
It clearly wasn't deliberate, but it's still his fault.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
The News Report seems to be lacking in any detail to indicate why, what .... so any comments about Jetski-er, boy standing on slipway etc. is based on what ?
We need more info to then be able to see what and who is cause etc. Just a picture of the slipway and few words ? Not enough.
Jetski - the name immediately brings up emotional response that driver must be guilty ....
My Son some years ago when walking at side of road was hit by a car ... driver a young guy ... barely out of Driving school.
My son was taken to hospital with broken leg, collar bone and arm ... cuts bruises ... a mess.
Police and others immediately rounded up on the driver for hitting my Son. My Son was upset and called in the Police .. what are you doing - I stepped in front of the car - it wasn't his fault at all ...
The Driver - was in terrible state, what with the accident and then Police / everyone attacking him ... his Mother asked my Son if he could visit ... he said of course ...
My son now has metal plate in his leg .... even now if I start to tell the story to people - they immediately latch oin and condemn the driver ... until I give the real truth ... Perception, Bias ... call it what you want. Here we have Jetski'er and young child. Let's have the whole real story first.
We need more info to then be able to see what and who is cause etc. Just a picture of the slipway and few words ? Not enough.
Jetski - the name immediately brings up emotional response that driver must be guilty ....
My Son some years ago when walking at side of road was hit by a car ... driver a young guy ... barely out of Driving school.
My son was taken to hospital with broken leg, collar bone and arm ... cuts bruises ... a mess.
Police and others immediately rounded up on the driver for hitting my Son. My Son was upset and called in the Police .. what are you doing - I stepped in front of the car - it wasn't his fault at all ...
The Driver - was in terrible state, what with the accident and then Police / everyone attacking him ... his Mother asked my Son if he could visit ... he said of course ...
My son now has metal plate in his leg .... even now if I start to tell the story to people - they immediately latch oin and condemn the driver ... until I give the real truth ... Perception, Bias ... call it what you want. Here we have Jetski'er and young child. Let's have the whole real story first.
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Channel Ribs
Well-Known Member
My deepest condolences to the family. I also have some sympathy for the jetskier as I cannot believe it would be intentional.
No doubt this will cause fresh rounds of demands for legislation to control PWCs, though I am not sure it would help.
As for the stuck throttle, stuck means it was already open (if indeed it was stuck and not panic stricken freeze of the rider) rather than sprang open spontaneously. As already said - if PWCs went slowly when inshore then such a throttle problem would allow time for the cord to be pulled.
On a technical note I believe most if not all PWC throttles have two cables so quite a bit of force can be exerted to power down, not like the single cable set up of a low HP motor.
Once again my condolences.