A loving husband and father tragically died after crashing while competing in the World Hovercraft Racing Championships in Sweden last year. Daniel Newton, from Stockport, who raced and engineered hovercrafts to an elite level, suffered a 'mechanical failure' while racing at the championships leading to his craft slowing down rapidly before a fellow competitor tragically crashed into him, knocking him out of his vehicle.
An inquest at Stockport Coroners' Court today (April 17) heard that the 42-year-old dad-of-two raced at the elite formula one level and was highly regarded in the sport. His sister, Jennifer Barriball, speaking on behalf of the family paid tribute to her 'incredible brother' at the hearing.
She described him as a "dedicated and devoted father" who was "very supportive and loving". "He was someone that was positive and would make peoples' days better," Ms Barriball added.
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"He was incredibly happy at this time of his life with his partner. He was very funny, not as funny as me," she joked adding, "but he had an infectious smile and laugh."
Daniel, who worked as an off-shore wind turbine engineer, 'loved' hovercrafts and had been involved with them from a young age due to his father. He built and raced his own craft using his skills as an engineer and was a 'very accomplished' racer, the hearing heard, with last year's world championships, held over two days in Flottsbro, near Stockholm in Sweden, going to be his last. Tragically, the crash happened as his seven-year-old son watched from a lakeside bank.
His sister said that he was expecting to do very well in the world championships and that these events were as highly organised as any other elite sporting event. She added that there was an inherent risk with the sport but as much as possible was done to limit this. Crafts carry one person only and racers wear helmets and life jackets, the inquest heard, with coastguards and lifeguards stationed both on the land and in the lake.
Coroner Christopher Morris told the court that Swedish police and their coronial service had carried out a thorough investigation after Daniel's death on September 2 last year. Ms Barriball added that the day before in a practice round Daniel had a problem with the engine and pulled out of the race. He repaired the issue and was happy to race again the next day.
She told the coroner that there is a safety process, similar to Formula One motor racing, if there is an incident in the course, including yellow and red flags to stop races. Ms Barriball told the court that she was told after the tragic incident on September 2 that it appeared Daniel lost power in his engine causing him to instantly slow down, but the other competitor was too close to avoid the collision which knocked Daniel out of his craft and into water, with the collision causing a red flag to be raised.
Mr Morris said the Swedish police had concluded their investigation and described the incident as a 'tragic accident'. Ms Barriball said: "It was a horrendous accident. It could have easily been the other way around."
Police Coroners Officer, Rita Wilkinson, added that the Swedish police took 'no further action' against anyone linked to the accident. Ms Wilkinson added that investigations found the 'skirt' of the craft deflated rapidly after the engine failure to cause the craft to slow down making the collision 'unavoidable'.
The other craft crashing into Daniel's caused 'extensive injuries' to him, she added, having been knocked out of his own craft and into the water. He was confirmed dead at the scene later following the attendance of an air ambulance.
Mr Morris, giving the conclusion of 'tragic accident', told the court: "Daniel was obviously a much loved, happy, respectable person, as well as a skilled engineer and designer and highly regarded hovercraft raced. He was loved by many others being a very warm human who made anyone he met feel better. Everyone had a good story and happy memory."
Mr Morris added that he fully accepted the conclusions of the Swedish authorities who carried out a 'very detailed' investigation into the tragic accident. He said Daniel's craft 'slowed down rapidly' before being struck by another competitor which 'tragically' ejected him from the craft. This caused him 'extensive injuries' leading to his death.
The World Hovercraft Federation and the Hovercraft Club of Great Britain posted tributes to Daniel after his death, with many more tributes pouring into the father at the time.
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