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Champion rower wins fight for compensation

November 13, 2012

A champion rower who almost drowned when dragged beneath a 49ft barge while sculling on the Thames has won the right to substantial compensation for her injuries.

Rachel Barnes could have died when the bows of the narrow boat Snow Bunting smashed into her racing scull near Caversham Bridge in May 2010.

She was sucked under the boat after it struck her, suffering neck and rib fractures, but managed to hold on to the wreckage which remained impaled on Snow Bunting’s bows as her helmsman steered over to the south bank.

There, Mrs Barnes, a prospect for the lightweight women’s squad for the Commonwealth Rowing Regatta in Canada, was rescued by fellow members of Reading University Boat Club.

Mrs Barnes’ injuries left her dreams of competing in Canada in tatters, her barrister, Christopher Taylor, told the High Court.

The 32-year-old, now a website designer, is guaranteed thousands of pounds in compensation from Snow Bunting’s insurers after a judge ruled the man at the tiller, Australian Graham Ranshaw, who had rented the vessel for a holiday cruise, was 100 per cent to blame.

Mr Ranshaw’s steering of the vessel breached good seamanship and the rules of navigation, said Admiralty Recorder Jervis Kay, QC, at the hearing on Tuesday.

The amount of her damages will be assessed at another court hearing, unless final settlement terms are now agreed.

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It is too easy to hire a vehicle and use it on the river without appropriate skills. Many powered vehicles ignore the rules of the river - including the speed limits and this is a real danger to unpowered boats - many of which have children in them. I am glad that she won. It sounds highly traumatic.