A teenage boy on a round-the-world voyage with his family died after being struck by the propeller of a fast-moving, unlicensed speedboat, an inquest has concluded. Edward Jarman, known as Eddie, was snorkelling in the South Pacific on August 9, 2020, when he was hit in the head and chest by a three-tonne semi-rigid inflatable boat in Mo'orea Bay, near Tahiti, French Polynesia.
Tragic Incident During Family Adventure
The British-Polish 14-year-old was enjoying a sailing trip with his family and had only a few months left before returning to the UK. The rented vessel was being piloted by a local lagoon guide. At an inquest at Woodvale Crematorium in Brighton on Tuesday, Eddie's family said they had been fighting for justice for a long and painful four years. Local police launched an involuntary manslaughter investigation but did not bring charges despite legal challenges.
Conflicting Evidence on Speed
Area coroner Joseph Turner said Eddie's injuries were likely immediately fatal and non-survivable. Conflicting evidence emerged over the boat's speed. Eddie's father, Harry Jarman, told police he saw the boat coming at full speed behind them and thought the driver was crazy. However, the driver claimed he was under the 20-knot speed limit and had adjusted his speed. The coroner concluded the boat was likely within the speed limit but noted that in other parts of the world, a 20-knot limit near a moored vessel and beach would be unusual.
Investigation and Legal Challenges
An involuntary manslaughter investigation was opened but charges were refused by an investigating judge due to insufficient evidence. Appeals were unsuccessful, and a further challenge in Paris was not pursued due to limited prospects of success. The inquest heard that the driver and his passenger had shared a bottle of wine at lunch, and the driver had been drinking the night before. However, toxicology tests taken the day of the incident were negative for alcohol and drugs, which the family questioned. The coroner found it difficult to reconcile the evidence, stating it seemed more probable than not that some alcohol was present.
Family's Grief and Legacy
The coroner returned a narrative conclusion, unable to reach a verdict of unlawful killing. He offered condolences for the unimaginable tragic loss. Eddie's family set up a crowdfunder for £100,000 and a young musicians' charity in his memory. His mother, Barbara Genda, wrote that Eddie loved music more than anything. Eddie was buried in West Hoathly, West Sussex, where he grew up.
