Over the last weekend a tragic accident ruined the lives of an entire family near the coastal town of Padstow, located in Cornwall, England. What was originally meant to be an exciting weekend family getaway, turned into the terrifying weekend the family will never forget. According to news reports, the family of 6 was out on the waters when an out of control speedboat came their way, causing the family to fall out of their own boat and land in the waters. The speedboat, which no longer had a driver controlling it, at high speeds ran over the family in the waters repeatedly. Sadly, the 51 year old father and 8 year old daughter were killed in the accident, and the remaining four family members were severely injured as well.

All of the surviving family members, including the 39 year old mother and children of the ages 12, 10 and 4; were airlifted to the nearby hospital to receive emergency treatments. The Superintendent Jim Colwell and the Cornwall police claim there is a chance the injuries the survivors are experiencing may be life-altering ones, though the severity has not been specified to the reporters. At this point the investigators are uncertain as to the cause of the accident, or even what lead the family to be tossed from their own boat into the waters. A nearby water skiing instructor acted heroically when he somehow lassoed the propellers on the boat to slow it down, allowing him to jump on board and stop the boat. The community is calling him a hero, as the lives of the remaining family members may too have been lost had it not been for him.

At this point forensic experts who are looking into the mechanics of the boat are stating that they believe the boat was missing a vital part of machinery, otherwise known as the "kill cord." This simple cord is something that is designed to cut the engine when a driver of the boat gets thrown off the vessel, so that he will not be harmed by the still running boat. It appears that the driver of the boat somehow was thrown off and as a result of the failed kill cord, the boat kept speeding uncontrollably; eventually leading to the death of two victims.

Speed boating accidents according to the U.S. Coast Guard happen quite often, and in 2008 there were a total of 4,789 accidents that occurred. Sadly, 709 people died as a result and another 3,331 victims were injured in these accidents; not to mention a total of $54 million dollars of property damages from the incidents. They also note that a large majority of the speed boating accident that occurred are directly connected to negligent acts of people on board. For example, when a driver is boating under the influence or even fails to pay attention, many lives may be placed at risk. When a driver fails to pay attention to the surrounding areas, they may collide with other boats, not notice people in the waters, among other possibilities.

If you or a loved one has been recently injured in a boating accident, do not hesitate in contacting a trusted personal injury attorney in your area today by using our website. A skilled litigator will be able to help you prove the negligence of the responsible party and fight for compensation to cover the associated costs of your injury and property damage. In the event you have lost a loved one, an attorney will help you file a wrongful death claim, as well. Don't let you and your family be the victim any longer, contact a skilled lawyer for the legal representation you deserve!