A TEIGNMOUTH boatman was completely cleared of any blame for a horrific accident on the beach in 1983.

Two people were badly injured when a parakiting trip went wrong.

Instead of rising vertically on his parachute, a holidaymaker was smashed against a pleasure craft, and a woman on the boat nearly strangled by ropes.

The operator, Alan Brookes, claimed the skipper of the Joybelle, Jack Hook, had some responsibility for the accident, and the case went to the Admiraly Court in London.

But Mr Justice Sheene threw out the claim and exonerated 60-year-old Mr Hook.

The accident happened near the pier when the Joybelle was preparing for a trip around the bay, and Mr Brookes was operating the new attraction of parakiting – being towed through the air by a kite from the line attached to a speedboat.

Robin Davey was connected to the kite, ready for a ride, but when the speedboat pulled away, he did not rise high enough and collided with the Joybelle a few feet away, causing severe injuries.

The Joybelle was pulling away from the beach at the time of impact and Mr Brookes alleged that Mr Hook was negligent in not giving some signal before leaving the beach.

In his judgment, Justice Sheene said that Mr Hook was under the impression that it was agreed the Joybelle would leave the beach first.

‘Common sense itself should dictate that this is what the agreement should have been. The facts of the case dictate that, just as with a child’s kite, there is no control of the parakite when she goes up in the air.

‘Whether because of a gust of wind, or because the parakite pulls down the ropes on one side or another, or somebody impedes her takeoff, it is not possible to be sure the parakite will rise directly and vertically into the air. So common sense dictates that the person in charge of the operation should ensure that there is plenty of room in which to operate.

‘I can find no negligence in the action taken by Mr Hook. He is obviously a man of great experience and integrity, and he had no reason to think other than that he would go first. He was completely in the right.

‘Mr Brookes was anxious to get away and I am convinced that the trouble was caused by his impatience. If the parakiter had waited a few minutes more, the accident would never have occurred.’

Mr Hook who has worked with boats since a boy, said after the hearing that he was pleased his good name had been cleared.

‘People around here know I did nothing wrong, but it is good to know the judge agrees.’

Another person injured in the accident was Carol Petty, 36, of Bishopsteignton, who was helping Mr Hook on the Joybelle.

‘She was covered by ropes from the ‘chute and one was pulled tight around her neck.

She managed to put one hand under the rope to save herself from being throttled, and received severe rope burns to her legs and a badly cut hand. Mr Justice Sheene said she had suffered a ‘terrible experience’.

Mrs Perry was awarded compensation against Mr Brookes in a County Court action earlier in the year, and Mr Davies is also seeking damages against him in the High Court.