Boy, 8, injured as his jet-ski ploughs into car

[OpenMind]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jh ... w_25082006





Boy, 8, injured as his jet-ski ploughs into car

By Richard Savill

(Filed: 25/08/2006)

An eight-year-old boy was critically injured when his jetski flew out of a lake, skidded 25ft across a car park, crashed through a hedge and collided with a moving car.

The boy, who was watched by his father, bounced up an access ramp and crossed the car park at speeds of up to 30mph.

After crashing through the hedge, his jet-ski was struck by a passing Rover car. It was believed to be the first time the boy had ridden a jet-ski.



Police said the car driver was shocked but unhurt. The boy, who suffered head injuries, was in a "critical but stable" condition in intensive care last night.

The boy was riding the "stand-up" jet-ski at the West Country Water Park on the outskirts of Bristol on Wednesday evening when he lost control of the machine. The bike hit the 30ft-wide wooden ramp leading out of the 4ft-deep circular lake, flew into the air and landed in the car park. The momentum took it through the 3ft-thick hedge, across a 15ft-wide grass verge and into the car. The boy, who has not been named, was reported to have ridden the £5,000 Yamaha Superjet 700 only 15ft before he opened the throttle and veered to the right. Michael Thompson, the owner of the park, estimated that the bike had reached its top speed of 35mph before hitting the exit ramp. He said: "I don't know why he turned right but I think he panicked and hit the accelerator instead of what he thought was the brake." The boy had visited the water park with his father and his father's business partner, who owns the bike. Police said they believed that the boy was riding the jet-ski legally.

Byron Whitfield, 37, who was at the water park yesterday while his five-year-old daughter, Abbey, was jetskiing, said he still believed the sport was safe. "Abbey has her own jet-ski and has been skiing since she was one. I'm happy to let her continue," he said. It is understood that the boy's mother was on holiday in Spain when the accident happened. She flew back yesterday to be at his bedside in Frenchay Hospital, near Bristol.

Insp Michael Tew, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "We are working very closely with health and safety, as well as looking into why the eight-year-old boy was on the jet-ski. It was a freak accident. You would think this was a safe sport but it shows the dangers of these types of places." Yamaha's marine division manager, David Pougher, said the industry did not support the use of any marine craft by children under 12 years. "Our industry has a very good safety record within the UK," he said. "Many sports can be dangerous. However if the necessary training is undertaken they can be enjoyed safely." Health and safety officers from South Gloucestershire council attended the scene and were working with police, a spokesman said.

© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2006.

[OpenMind]

Should children this age be allowed to ride jet skis in public places?