Police
are investigating the deaths of a father and his daughter following a tragic
speedboat accident in Cornwall.

Nick Milligan, aged 51, and his eight-year-old daughter Emily died
after being hit by their rigid inflatable boat (RIB) on the Camel Estuary near
Padstow on Sunday.

Coastguards
were alerted that six people had been thrown from their speedboat and it was
traveling in circles ‘out of control.’

Police
were called to the incident at 3.50pm and said the incident involved a family from the
Wandsworth area of London who were on holiday in Cornwall.

Four other family members struck by the boat were airlifted to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

Police said Mr Milligan’s 39-year-old wife Victoria and their
four-year-old son Kit remain in hospital with ‘serious, potentially
life-changing injuries’, while their two other daughters Amber, 12, and
Olivia, 10, suffered minor injuries in the accident.

The
privately owned boat has
been recovered and taken to police premises for examination.

The
police helicopter attended as well as paramedics, two search and rescue
helicopters from RNAS Culdrose and RNB Chivenor, RNLI lifeboats from Rock and
Padstow and three coastguard rescue teams from Newquay, St Merryn and Polzeath.

Mr
Milligan’s brother Max has paid tribute to him, saying: ‘Nick, or Nicko as he was
known to us, was an extremely loving father and husband, son and brother who
doted on his family.

‘As
children and teenagers we spent many summers and New Years’ Eves at New Polzeath
here in Cornwall, and a few years ago he built his dream house above Daymer
Bay.

‘That
he and my delightful niece died in their favourite place at the end of a
gloriously sunny bank holiday weekend provides us with a tiny glimmer of light.

‘I
would like to thank Devon and Cornwall Police and all the staff at Derriford
Hospital who have been incredible.’

Police
are investigating the incident on behalf of the HM Coroner. It is a joint
investigation with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB). Police and
the MAIB are also being assisted by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

An
MCA spokesman said Falmouth Coastguard was first contacted
at 3.48pm on Sunday May 5 and it was reported that ‘six people had been thrown
from a speedboat approximately
half a mile off Padstow in the Camel Estuary.’

The spokesman said: ‘It was reported by members of
the public that the boat was out of control and had struck a number of those in
the water.

‘The RNLI lifeboats from Rock and Padstow along with
the search and rescue helicopters from RNAS Culdrose and RMB Chivenor were sent
to the scene.

‘St. Merryn, Newquay and Polzeath Coastguard Rescue
Teams have also been involved.

‘We do not believe at this time any other vessels,
kayaks or people were involved in this incident, other than those that had
fallen from the speedboat.’

Police and coastguards have praised bravery of a local waterskiing instructor, Charlie Toogood, and other local people to rescue the family.

Mr Toogood, from Camel Ski School, leapt on to the runaway
speedboat and brought it under control after going alongside in another
vessel.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police on 101
quoting log 603 of 05/05/13.

(Picture: a still from a video shot by a witness which shows the moment the speedboat was brought under control)