Drunk man driving boat called Peaky Blinder when it crashed, killing two people

15 Jul 2026 • 11:29 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Drunk man driving boat called Peaky Blinder when it crashed, killing two people

  • A fatal pleasure boat crash in Portsmouth Harbour last year, which killed two men, was caused by the driver's significant alcohol consumption and excessive speed, an investigation has found.
  • William Blake, 61, and passenger Gary Huntington, 60, died when Blake's rigid inflatable boat, Peaky Blinder, hit a stationary navigation beacon at 33.5 knots, having been driven at up to 49.7 knots in a 10-knot zone.
  • None of the three men on board, including a surviving passenger, were wearing life jackets when they were thrown into the water by the impact.
  • A toxicology report indicated a "significant alcohol concentration" in Mr Blake's blood, which would have substantially impaired his judgement and reaction time.
  • The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) highlighted a "longstanding regulatory gap" regarding enforceable alcohol limits for non-professional mariners and recommended the Secretary of State for Transport introduce such limits.

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