AN INQUIRY was under way today after a man died in a speedboat crash on the River Itchen at Southampton.

The tragedy happened when two high-powered boats collided with each other near the Northam Bridge late last night.

One man, aged 25, escaped with minor injuries but the other, believed to be in his 30s, was found collapsed in his craft when emergency services arrived at the scene.

Attempts by paramedics to revive him failed and he was certified dead on arrival at Southampton General Hospital.

It was believed the two men were friends. Police said it was not yet clear what they had been doing out on the river when the accident happened. Both are understood to live in the Southampton area, but neither has yet been named by police while officers trace relatives.

Investigations into the cause of the collision were continuing today, but police said the force of the impact had thrown the younger man into the water.

The alarm was raised just before 12.30am when the victim's cries for help were heard by night security staff at the nearby Meridian TV studios.

Police at the scene helped the man to safety ashore, where he was described as being safe and well.

The second small speedboat was secured and pulled to shore, where emergency services found the driver laying on the floor, apparently already dead.

Today Hampshire police spokeswoman Pauline Davey said: "We are still waiting to interview the man who survived the collision, so it is not yet entirely clear what they had been doing on the River Itchen.

"We are trying to inform the deceased's next of kin and expect a formal identification to take place later today."

Police said the Southampton coroner's office had been informed of the incident and an inquest would take place in due course.