SOUTHAMPTON powerboat champion Shelley Jory-Leigh has had a miraculous escape after a 90mph accident.

The 39-year-old sportswoman lost control of her boat during a race, catapulting her co-driver 100ft into the sea and into the path of other boats.

Shelley was flung to each side of the boat like a “rag doll” while her Belgium co-driver Patrick Huybreghts flew into the air crashing against Shelley’s head before being thrown almost 100 feet in the water.

Race bosses give competitors a strict limit of 90mph because they fear an accident over that speed could kill the crew.

Remarkably within just seconds the Southampton-based racer kept her cool and calmly radioed for help as she feared Patrick, who was in the racing line, would be mowed down by the speeding boats.

But as soon as help arrived Shelley, who got married in March, collapsed with the shock of the trauma.

The pair were both taken to hospital but miraculously escaped the accident with just bruising.

Speaking about the ordeal Shelley, 39, told the Daily Echo: “We are so lucky we are in one piece. When I saw what had happened I was surprised I was walking and talking. This was about as fast as you can have an accident. We just about pushed it to the limit.”

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The team was competing on the third day of racing in Valetta, Malta, for rounds three and four of the Powerboat GPS World Championship. They were in second place and on course to win the weekend event when disaster struck.

“Then the boat just dug itself in on one side and catapulted us. That was when Patrick went on top of me and then the boat just crashed on the other side.”

She said: “When I was on my own all I could think of was Patrick. But as soon as the doctors got on board I just collapsed.

I could feel my body shutting down.”

Yesterday, Shelley and her team got back on British soil where her osteopath and doctors said she was severely bruised, had whiplash and had suffered concussion.

She said: “If you prod me anywhere it feels bruised, even my hands and it hurts to brush my hair. I am just damn annoyed we didn’t win.”

The accident was only the second major incident of her racing career – in 2003 Shelley and her boat were tossed 20ft in the air at 70mph just yards from the finish line while she was leading a race near Cowes. She escaped unharmed.

Shelley’s next race will take place next month in Sardinia.

She added: “I think the first time back in the boat both of us will feel a little uneasy but I think we will get out as soon as we can to get our confidence.”