Speedboat deaths: ‘Kill cord’ was not attached

THE driver of a speedboat, that killed two members of the same family as it spun out of control, was not attached to a safety device designed to cut power in an emergency.

Nick Milligan and his daughter Emily were killed. Picture: PA

Nick Milligan, 51, managing director of, Sky Media, was declared dead at the scene in Padstow, Cornwall, along with his daughter, Emily, eight, following the incident on 5 May.

His wife, Victoria, 39, and the couple’s other children Amber, 12, Olivia, ten, and Kit, four, were also injured by the speedboat as it circled at high speed.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), report published today states: “The [boat] was fitted with a kill cord, but this was not attached to the driver at the time of the 
accident.

“Consequently, when the driver was ejected from the boat, the kill cord did not operate to stop the engine and the [boat] continued to out of control.”

It has not been confirmed who was driving the boat.