Donald Campbell dies attempting World Water Speed Record

4.1.67 'Fate Stepped In': Donald Campbell dies attempting World Water Speed Record.
The cause of the crash has been variously attributed to Campbell not waiting to refuel after doing a first run of 297.6 mph (478.9 km/h), and hence the boat being lighter; the wash caused by his first run and made much worse by the use of the water brake; and, possibly, a cut-out of the jet engine caused by fuel starvation. Some evidence for this last possibility may be seen in film recordings of the crash - as the nose of the boat climbs and the jet exhaust points at the water surface no disturbance or spray can be seen at all. Mr Whoppit, Campbell's teddy bear mascot, was found among the floating debris. Royal Navy divers made strenuous efforts to find and recover Campbell's body but, although the wreck of K7 was soon found, they called off the search without locating his body.

Campbell's last words on his final run were, via radio intercom:

Pitching a bit down here...Probably from my own wash...Straightening up now on track...Rather close to Peel Island...Tramping like mad...er... Full power...Tramping like hell here... I can't see much... and the water's very bad indeed...I can't get over the top... I'm getting a lot of bloody row in here... I can't see anything... I'm going.... oh!

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• donald
• campbell
• world
• water
• speed
• record
• lane
• coniston

[moontunes100]

I was six at the time nearly 7 at the time but I remember the impact it had on me as all the family watched it live, My sister, Mother, Father, and I just looked at each other in stunned silence it must have been a Saturday or Sunday as my Father took the family to Rudyard Lake just to pacify me as I wanted to find him, Conistone was way to far from our area, and it was nice of him to make feel like I was helping but at the same time knowing that I was innocent to believe it was the site. RIP

[chatham43]

....nice story....

[fearbeforefearbefore]

To be honest, if you have to die, that's a pretty epic way to go.

+respect. The only man to set land speed records on water and land in the same year.

[trd2009]

i think we should give him the record of reaching 300 mph. thats all he wanted and he was 2.5mph negative. he deserves that at least.

[Generation1Terrorist]

What a guy

[750sLaverda]

What Donald says on the transmission is: "I can't see much and water's very bad indeed...I can't get over the top...I'm getting a lot of bloody row in here...I can't see anything... I've got the bows up...I'm gone...oh...". Fantastic man, a bloody hero who was shamefully only recognised by his country after his death when he was posthumously awarded the Queen's commendation for bravery. Possessed of courage and tenacity who wished to emulate his unforgiving father and to keep Britain 1st.

[brickmaster555]

@floghit

We are related- he's my great grandma's cousin.

[floghit]

hell yeah, that my grans brother!

[OriginAndAbsolution]

Does he say 'I think the bow is up' between 'I can't see anything' and 'I'm going' ? He definitely says something..

[kingarthurup]

@moontunes100

did you find him?

[powerspade]

A legend

[zeek3177]

Damn almost 300mph, WTF, that hella fast speed

[dfcvda]

and all because he was impatient, the wake that he created on the up was still spreading out, if he had waited a bit longer it may not have happened.

This is not my opinion, its one of the findings.