'Oh No!' What the Jet Skier said just before hitting the Red Jet (photos)

Richard Bache was on the midday Red Funnel car ferry from Southampton today, taking photos, when he witnessed a Jet Ski crash into the side of Red Jet 4.

Quite how the rider of the Jet Ski didn’t see the large noisy boat is unclear.

Richard’s dramatic photos captured the moment the Jet Ski rider actually hit the boat.

Jet Skier: ‘Oh No! – Then the bang
“Just before the impact, I heard him say ‘Oh no!’, then the bang”, Richard, who lives in Shanklin, told OnTheWight.

Richard was on the Red Osprey heading back to the Island. He’s a keen photographer, so he was up on deck as it was a lovely sunny day.

Knowing the Red Jet 4 was due to pass the car ferry, Richard was poised to take photos, when he heard a Jet Ski buzzing around.

“Showing off”
“They were riding around the back of the boat and appeared to be showing off to the people out on deck of the car ferry,” he told OnTheWight, “The Jet Skis are so quick. We couldn’t believe we were watching it happen. People on deck were saying, ‘He’s going to hit it’.

“I commuted on the Red Jet for fourteen years and have never heard of anything like this.”

Richard said that after the impact, the Red Jet turned around to ‘have a word’ with the rider.

He estimated that the Ski Jet rider was in the water for about five minutes.

Police Marine Unit been in touch
The Hampshire Constabulary’s Marine Unit has since been in touch with Richard. The area where the crash took place, by Fawley, is controlled by the Harbour Master and they’re looking at a possible prosecution, Richard told us.

No one was injured
A spokesperson for Red Funnel told OnTheWight,

“Red Funnel Ferries can confirm that a Jet Ski made contact with the side of a Red Jet in Southampton Water near Calshot this morning, Sat 5th November. The Red Jet was the 12.15 departure from Southampton to West Cowes with 45 passengers onboard.
“No one was injured in the incident and the Jet Ski rider was picked up by the Red Jet crew and taken ashore. No damage was sustained to the Red Jet and the Jet Ski was later recovered.
“The cause of the incident will be investigated and the relevant authorities have been informed.”

Ready, steady, go!
Here’s how it happened …

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