According to investigators, there was a boat accident in which a 15-year-old girl died

The investigation revealed that the speedboat in which a 15-year-old girl suffered fatal injuries after colliding with a navigation buoy had been involved in three previous accidents.

These included a case in which a passenger suffered rib injuries in “extraordinarily similar circumstances.”

Emily Lewis died on August 22, 2020 after a Seadogz rigid pontoon (rib) collided with a 4.5m high buoy in Southampton Water, with a number of other passengers sustaining serious injuries.

An inquest in Winchester heard that Emily was taken to hospital but attempts to resuscitate her failed and the decision was made to remove her from life support.

An autopsy revealed that she died from injuries to her upper abdomen, sustained when she was thrown forward from the bench she was sitting on after her ribs collided with a buoy.

Captain Emma Tiller, an investigator with the Maritime Accidents Investigation Branch (MAIB), told the hearing that the rib provided 11 passengers with a “thrilling” ride at speeds in excess of 40 knots.

Michael Lawrence, 55, who was driving the boat, was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence, but guilty of failing to keep a proper watch and failing to drive at a safe speed.

Michael Howley, 52, owner of the now-defunct Seadogz, which operated boat tours, was convicted of improperly operating a boat.

In March 2023, they were both sentenced at Winchester Crown Court to 18 weeks’ detention suspended for two years, ordered to carry out 125 hours of community service and ordered to pay court costs of £1,000.

Capt. Tiller said the route included a close miss of a buoy as well as a crossing of the wake of the Red Falcon Ferry.

Shortly after the ferry’s fifth crossing to the Isle of Wight, the rib struck the North West Netley buoy.

She said: “Even though the buoy was almost directly ahead, the captain of the Seadogz did not see it until just before impact at 38.4 knots.

“The fin accelerated in this relatively constant direction for the last 10 seconds before it hit the buoy.”

She added: “The impact of the buoy caused sudden deceleration and as a result the unsecured passengers of the Seadog were thrown forward.

“Emily Lewis suffered fatal injuries when she struck the extended handle in front of her during impact.”

Capt. Tiller said the captain’s “mental burden” would be increased by ribbing the ferry’s wake and that the Small Commercial Vessels (SCV) Code recommends the presence of an additional crew member.

She said Seadogz RIB Charter Limited used two-person crews, but over time this changed to employing only the captain without a “risk assessment to determine the consequences”.

Capt. Tiller said Seadogz had been involved in three previous crashes over the last eight and a half years, and a male passenger was sitting on the bench, similar to Emily, and suffered serious rib injuries after hitting the guardrail in front of him during the crash. in 2017

She added that the company also did not have a safety management system (SMS) or occupational health and safety policy, and its risk assessment did not take into account the possibility of a collision.

Capt. Tiller also criticized Lawrence for failing to behave as expected and not prioritizing the safety of the ship and passengers, instead informing the company of the disaster via cellphone.

However, she said he may have experienced a “negative startle reaction” as a result of the accident.

Capt. Tiller also said the crotch straps were removed from life jackets used on the ribs, contrary to the rules for their use.

She added that the MAIB had made a number of recommendations aimed at providing improved guidance to the sector due to the “limitations” of the SCV Code.

Emily’s father, Simon Lewis, of Park Gate, Southampton, who was also on the trip with his wife Nicola and their other daughter Amy, paid tribute to his daughter, saying: ‘She was a very kind and caring person with an amazing ability to make people feel loved, which was beyond her young age.

He added that the impact on their lives had been “devastating” and said: “Our lives have been decimated, careers lost and the dreams of all of us shattered.”

Amy said: “I never imagined that I wouldn’t be able to have my sister by my side forever. I’m very sad without her, I miss her every day and I will never miss her.”

Deputy coroner Henry Charles adjourned the case until its conclusion on Thursday.