Nick Milligan and his daughter Emily died in the tragedy on Sunday.
Police are investigating the deaths of a South West London father and daughter who died in a speedboat accident this weekend.
Nick Milligan, who had been managing director of Sky Media since 2004, was thrown from the boat along with his eight-year-old daughter Emily in the Camel Estuary off Padstow, on Sunday.
His 39-year-old wife Victoria and four-year-old son Kit are in hospital with potentially life-changing injuries, while their two other daughters Amber,12, and Olivia,10, suffered minor injuries in the accident.
The family, from Wandsworth, were hit by their boat while it was going round in circles.
The police say that a “kill cord” is a key focus of the investigation. The device attaches to the boat’s throttle and driver so if they fall overboard the engine cuts out.
The boat was stopped after local waterskiing instructor Charlie Toogood jumped on board and brought it under control.
Mr Toogood has so far declined to comment but police and coastguards praised his brave and heroic efforts.
Matt Pavitt, coastguard sector manager for North Cornwall, said: “Without doubt, without [Mr Toogood’s] intervention, we could have been dealing with a far more serious situation.”
Supt Jim Colwell, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said a mechanical examination of the boat had taken place, carried out by forensic experts and Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) inspectors.
Photo courtesy of ANDREJ NEUHERZ via Wiki Commons, with thanks.
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