Southampton powerboat racer dies (From Daily Echo)

Powerboat driver Mike Lovell dies in hospital after crash during P1 SuperStock at Weymouth

8:33am Monday 17th September 2012 in News By Melanie Adams, Health Reporter

A Southampton powerboat racer has died after his boat flipped over at high speed during a race.

Driver Mike Lovell, from the city, died last night at Southampton General Hospital after sustaining serious injuries during the crash in Weymouth yesterday.

His navigator, Dan Whapples, from Warsash, is currently in a serious but stable condition.

A spokesperson from P1 SuperStock said that their thoughts were with the whole powerboat community and particularly with Mike and Dan’s family and friends.

The pair had been taking part in a national powerboat racing Championship in Weymouth Bay yesterday afternoon when they were thrown clear from their vessel as it rolled over.

They were recovered from the water before being flown to Southampton General Hospital .

A spokesman for the Coastguard, which was called to the accident, said: “The casualties were recovered from the water and to enable a quick transfer to hospital, the most severely injured casualty was taken aboard the Weymouth RNLI lifeboat and winched by the Portland Coastguard Rescue Helicopter to fly onwards to Southampton General Hospital.

“The second casualty was transferred to Southampton General Hospital by the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Helimed 10.
“Wyke Regis Coastguard Rescue Team was on scene at Weymouth and

Southampton Coastguard Rescue Team was called out to secure the helicopter landing site.”

The powerboat was competing in the area of Weymouth Town Beach and the harbour entrance when the incident happened.

A report has been made to the Marine Accident Investigation Branch.
Weymouth - the Olympic sailing venue - was hosting the first visit of the P1 SuperStock UK Championship to the Dorset coastal resort for the national powerboat series finale.

Organisers of the P1 SuperStock UK Championship cancelled the race.