Emily Lewis: Speedboat driver acquitted of manslaughter over 15-year-old’s death at Southampton Water

A speedboat driver has been acquitted of manslaughter after the death of 15-year-old Emily Lewis following a crash on Southampton Water in 2020.

But Michael Lawrence, 55, was found guilty by a jury at Winchester Crown Court of failing to maintain a proper lookout and failing to maintain a safe speed relating to the teenager’s death.

Emily suffered fatal injuries after the rigid inflatable boat (rib) collided with a 4.5m high buoy at 36.6 knots in Southampton Water on 22 August 2020.

A number of other passengers were also seriously injured.

Prosecuting, Christine Agnew KC told the trial how Emily’s parents, Simon and Nikki, had made the decision to take her and sister Amy, 18, for a “high thrills” speedboat ride

The rib was travelling at speeds of 47.8 knots (55mph), which is higher than the limit of 40 knots (46mph), which Ms Agnew said the defendants believed was still in place.

The ride, which was said to have taken place in “perfect conditions”, saw the Stormforce 950 rib cross the wake of a Red Falcon ferry five times, before heading straight towards the North West Netley buoy, which measures 4.69m above the water line – travelling towards it for 14 seconds at a speed of 38.6 knots (44mph), before hitting it and throwing passengers into the water and injuring others.

Emily suffered from internal injuries from being crushed up against the metal handle in front of her, and was taken ashore by another rib, then transported to hospital.

She died in hospital, when her parents decided to turn off her life support after being told by medical staff she had suffered from oxygen starvation to the brain and her injuries were “unsurvivable”.

Ms Agnew said Mr Lawrence, of Blackfield, New Forest, initially said a face mask blowing into his face had blocked his view, but later changed his account.

Mr Lawrence, who is a former lifeboatman, told the court he had lost his vision briefly, prior to hitting the buoy

The jury was told that a condition such as a blood clot in an artery in his eye was unlikely to have caused the loss of vision, due to it being unlikely to have impacted both eyes at once.

He was said to be an extremely experienced mariner”, and his co-defendant called him “Mr Safe and Mr Cautious”.

Mr Lawrence had served as an RNLI lifeboatman for two decades, and held a number of qualifications, as well as being the principle of his own RYA recognised training centre, A2Sea, which held power boat courses.

There is not yet a verdict in relation to Michael Howley, 52, the owner of the company which operated the boat trip, who was charged with not operating the boat safely.

Howley, of Hordle, New Forest, is also a former lifeboatman, and said he used his past experiences from rescues to inform him of risk assessments which he carried out for the business on a daily basis, to ensure the safety of the passengers and staff.