Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
ABC News
ABC News
National
court reporter Claire Campbell

Jet ski rider Daniel Patrick Liddell pleads guilty to killing teenage boy in River Murray crash

Daniel Patrick Liddell was over the legal alcohol limit when he hit and killed 14-year-old Cooper Henke. (ABC News: Claire Campbell)

A man has pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving over a jet ski crash that claimed the life of teenage boy Cooper Henke on the River Murray in December.

Craigmore man Daniel Patrick Liddell, 43, faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court for the first time on Wednesday.

The court was told that Liddell had a blood-alcohol reading of 0.08 at the time when he crashed his jet ski into two children who were in the water.

That crash happened at Murbko, near Blanchetown, on December 16, around 2:20pm.

Cooper Henke, aged 14, and from the outback town of Roxby Downs, was pulled from the water unconscious and died at the scene.

A fundraising page describes Cooper Henke as an "excellent, happy, full-of-life kid" who was "taken too soon". (gofundme)

The younger child was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Liddell was charged with causing death and harm by dangerous driving.

He sobbed in court today as he pleaded guilty to the charges.

Jet skiers and boat captains are, like drivers, required by law to comply with a blood-alcohol limit of 0.05.

Liddell will be remanded on bail to face court again in April. 

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.