Campbell took own life —claim
NZPA staff correspondent
The speed ace, Donald Campbell, committed sui* cide while trying to set a new world record on Coniston Water 20 years ago, a 8.8. C. radio docu* mentary claims. Campbell’s boat Bluebird — named after the record-breaking car of his father, Malcolms — disintegrated after leaving the water at more than 500km/h on January 4, 1967.
The 8.8. C. programme suggests the “Boy’s Own’’ hero had horrendous financial problems and decided a high-speed crash
would be an honorable way to go. He was aged 45 at the time.
The programme’s producer, Rod Macrae, who spent three months questioning friends of Campbell as well as witnesses to the crash, told the Daily Express: “Everything points to the fact that he killed himself.”
The suggestion has already been rebuffed by some of Campbell’s friends. A “Daily Express” journalist, David Benson, a close friend of the speedster, said: “Donald loved life too much to kill himself.”
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Press, 9 January 1987, Page 8
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159Campbell took own life—claim Press, 9 January 1987, Page 8
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