Powerboat champ killed near Brisbane
by Media Services on 6 Feb 2010
A favourite place for watersports of all kinds, it was relatively uncrowded yesterday when the accident occurred. MIAA
Neil Coddington was killed yesterday when his boat, Blue Max, rolled and tossed him out at 140kmh on a dam near Ipswich, west of Brisbane.
The 57-year-old was plucked unconscious from the waters of Somerset Dam by fellow boaters at around 8.45am.
Known by friends and the racing fraternity as 'Fish', he was a regular at the dam and and was out yesterday to take his hydroplane powerboat through its paces.
Ipswich police acting Sergeant Mick Abbott said witnesses to the crash saw Mr Coddington, the sole occupant, warm up the boat before hitting speed and them flipping over. 'The driver was wearing a safety helmet and life preserver,' Sgt Abbott said.
Maritime Safety Queensland is investigating the incident and said speed would be one of the factors considered.
Water police from Brisbane went to the dam to recover the hydroplane and the police forensic crash unit is also investigating.
Friends of the family huddled together at the accident site and told the QT the crash was simply 'a terrible accident'.
Mr Coddington and his brother Graham won several powerboating trophies in Blue Max.
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