SEGRAVE KILLED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 14 June 1930, Page 7

SEGRAVE KILLED

SPEEDBOAT MISS ENGLAND OVERTURNS

MECHANIC SEVERELY INJURED

ROLLS-ROYCE EXPERT MISSING

THOUSANDS WITNESS TRAGEDY

(United PrcsH Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copy right)

(Received 14th June, 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, 13th June

. The speedboat Miss England was attempting a world’s record when an explosion caused her to overturn. The Rolls-Royce expert Ilalliwcll is missing. / The mechanic, Willcocks, was severely injured. Sir Henry Scgravo was rescued suffering from a broken arm, a fractured leg and crushed ribs. He died a few hours later. He bad established a record of 96.41 miles per hour before the crash.

The boat’s hows were crippled under the speed. When she reappeared on the surface bottom up there was a great rent in the hull, and she sank later. Thousands lining the shores witnessed the tragedy. The Miss England had covered the measured mile, turned, and travelled a further two miles at almost her maximum speed. Segrave seemed to swerve violently and plunge under water. The spectators screamed and women fainted. Dozens of speedboats rushed to the assistance. Willcocks was first rescued, with blood streaming from his face. A man dived in fully clothed and brought up Sir Henry Segrave. A search for Halliwell was fruitless.

Sir Henry Segrave was born in the United States, ,his father being an Englishman. He was educated at Eton, one of England’s most famous schools, and joined the Royal Air Force during the period of the war, where lie first learnt to love the thrills of excessive speed. Last year lie captured the world’s land speed record on Daytona beach, attaining a speed of 231.36 miles per hour in the car “Golden Arrow. In an unofficial trial this week lie attained a speed of 109.8 miles per hour in the Miss England, which was 17 miles above the record. The following day he reached a speed of 101.9 miles an” hour.