Driver error caused powerboat crash, coroner rules

3 hours ago

Mousumi Bakshi,at Suffolk Coroner's Courtand

George King,Suffolk

Brett Duncan, 51, who was described as a "popular" man, died in the incident at Oulton Broad, Suffolk, in July 2025

Circuit Powerboat Association Brett Duncan looks away from the camera. He has short dark hair and wears glasses with a black polo top. — Brett Duncan, 51, who was described as a "popular" man, died in the incident at Oulton Broad, Suffolk, in July 2025

Driver error contributed to a high-speed crash which killed a powerboat racer, a coroner has concluded.

Brett Duncan, of Martlesham Heath, Suffolk, was travelling at 70mph (113km/h) on Oulton Broad when he struck Jaki Beech's houseboat on 24 July last year.

Suffolk Coroner's Court heard the 51-year-old was not wearing a kill cord to cut power to his hydroplane's engine when he struck the boat, which withstood the impact due to its steel frame.

Coroner Dr Daniel Sharpstone said "there was nothing to suggest Brett was nothing other than his usual self" on the day, but ruled "on balance of probabilities, driver error contributed to the collision".

The houseboat, to the rear, was struck by Brett Duncan's hydroplane but remained afloat

Shaun Whitmore/BBC A view of Oulton Broad. A yacht rests in the water with a houseboat in the distance. — The houseboat, to the rear, was struck by Brett Duncan's hydroplane but remained afloat

Duncan, a father of two teenagers, had been on a practice run during the Lowestoft and Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club Championship when he left the line of the course.

Just six second later, his hydroplane, which the inquest heard had been "operating normally", struck the houseboat. He suffered head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Giving evidence, Peter Mantripp, vice-chairman of the Circuit Powerboat Association, described Duncan as being a "unique guy" who knew "everything powerboat-related".

The technical expert said his boat had been running "absolutely perfectly" ahead of the crash, but he had not turned "as much as he needed to" to avoid the houseboat.

Beech, who was on the houseboat with her niece when the crash happened, said the hydroplane "disintegrated" on impact.

She recalled Duncan looking left towards another houseboat before looking at her boat directly before the crash.

Powerboat racing has not yet recommenced at Oulton Broad following the crash

Shaun Whitmore/BBC A general view of the Oulton Broad marina. Boats and yachts rest in the water. — Powerboat racing has not yet recommenced at Oulton Broad following the crash

Jeni Jelf, who investigated the collision for the Circuit Powerboat Association, suggested that Duncan may have been distracted upon realising the kill cord was not attached to his wrist.

She told the court that the cord was a "critical personal safety device" that was still in tact in the boat, and had not been worn by Duncan.

Having reviewed the video evidence on multiple occasions, she said that while Duncan showed "no obvious sign of a panicked state", his head position showed "signs of distraction" before the crash occurred.

The owner of the houseboat questioned whether high-speed boat races, such as one pictured on Oulton Broad in 2023, should be permitted on the water in future

Three powerboats whizz towards the camera on a choppy river, with marsh and trees in the background. The three drivers wear orange helmets. — The owner of the houseboat questioned whether high-speed boat races, such as one pictured on Oulton Broad in 2023, should be permitted on the water in future

On the first day of the inquest on Monday, houseboat owner Beech told the court she believed the sport was "highly dangerous" and that hydroplanes should be stopped from racing on Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft.

After the crash, the Circuit Powerboat Association was asked by East Suffolk District Council to provide a report into what happened.

In July this year, the Lowestoft and Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club announced it would be cancelling its 2026 racing season.

It said it had not been given permission by the council nor the Broads Authority for on-water activities to recommence, but stressed the decision "should not be interpreted as the end of powerboat racing at Oulton Broad".