Seadogz Ribs pair Michael Lawrence and Michael Howley on trial over death of Emily Lewis in waters off Marchwood

A COURT has heard about the heartbreaking last moments of a teenage girl who died after a boat ride crashed in waters off Marchwood.

Emily Lewis (15) died from injuries suffered when the RIB she and her family were riding in hit a buoy on 22nd September 2020.

Two men are on trial at Winchester Crown Court, facing charges in relation to her death.

Michael Lawrence (55) of Hartsgrove Avenue, Blackfield, denies gross negligence manslaughter, as well as failing to maintain a proper lookout and failing to proceed at a safe speed.

Boat owner Michael Howley (51) of Stopples Lane, Hordle, also denies a charge of failing to take all reasonable steps to make sure the vessel was operated safely.

Before the trial began, an inquest into the death heard Emily, from Park Gate, Southampton, died from an upper abdominal injury suffered in the crash when her chest was crushed by a metal handrail.

Prosecutor Christine Agnew told jurors that Emily's parents, Simon and Nikki Lewis, took their daughters Emily and Amy (18) for a speedboat ride with the company Seadogz Ribs, setting out from Ocean Village.

The court heard the ride was advertised as being an "adrenaline-fuelled" experience with "sharp" turns and riding through the wakes of Red Jet ferries.

Reading from Amy Lewis's witness statement, prosecutors said: "I'm an adrenaline junkie, so I was loving it. When the boat turned sharply I felt nervous. Emily was like "stop screaming" but I was like "I'm scared".

"I said to my dad 'I'm living my best life' and he just turned and laughed."

Amy said that before the fatal collision with the green buoy, the boat was driving straight for about 20 seconds.

She said: "I had no idea the accident was about to happen. I couldn't understand how we'd hit the buoy. We hadn't turned, we hadn't changed path at all."

The court heard the RIB immediately started to deflate after the collision and other boat owners came to the vessel's aid.

Amy, who suffered a broken arm in the crash, said she saw her sister lying on the floor of the RIB being cradled by their mum. She said: "I heard Emily say 'I can't breathe, I can't breathe'. She wasn't very well and she kept closing her eyes.

"The skipper came round and he was on his phone. I heard him say 'we've just had an accident – it's a bad one'.

The court heard Emily and her family were rushed to hospital. Amy said: "I asked the nurse how Emily was doing. I said 'you don't have to tell me what I want to hear – is she going to die?'

"I started crying, I was devastated and howling.

"The nurse said she was not going to live and she was very poorly. In the room with Emily there were about 10 doctors around her and mum and dad. I said goodbye to her and gave her a kiss, then I decided I couldn't be in the room any more and walked out."

Karim Khalil, representing Lawrence, a former RNLI lifeboatman, said: "He did, in so far as he was able, keep a proper lookout and he did not travel at an improper speed.

"He is a genuinely decent man who has been doing his best to explain and understand how this happened."

James Newton-Price, representing Howley, also an ex-RNLI lifeboatman, said his client did "what he reasonably could" to ensure the RIB ride was safe. Mr Newton-Price added: "The two RIBs were made by high quality manufacturers, he invested a lot of money in them and they were regularly serviced and maintained."

The trial continues.