Charlie Hutton, Boy Killed by Boat Propeller Near Isle of Wight Needles
Charlie Hutton was more seriously injured than the other boy. A Solent Coast Guard Helicopter, already airborne performing an exercise, was routed to the accident. Charlie Hutton was life flighted to Southampton General Hospital on the mainland. A Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat took the other boy to meet an ambulance where he taken to St. Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight.
Charlie Hutton died Saturday July 21st from his injuries.
Charlie was a student at Whitgift Independent School where he was a very skilled field hockey player. He trained with the the England under 15 team last year and hoped to make the England under 16 team this year, with a long term goal of playing for Great Britain in Olympics in 2020.
The boat involved in the accident, a Rigid Inflatable Hull Boat (RHIB / RIB), was taken to Hamble and secured as evidence pending further inquiries although no suspicious circumstances were found.
Officials are still investigating exactly what caused the two boys to be ejected from the boat.
Charlie Hutton’s parents report he loved the sea and water sports. Charlie was also a talented musician. They plan to hold a private event this fall after school starts to celebrate his life with family and friends.
Charlie Hutton is front and left of center with watch on his right wrist in the national field hockey champions team photo above.
Whitgift School, founded in 1596, is a prominent private school for boys that provides tremendous facilities, field trips, and experiences for its students. If Charlie Hutton had finished school there, he would likely have had a very promising future. A tribute on their website to Charlie Hutton mentions Charlie’s father, uncle, and two older brothers also attended Whitgift. The school Chaplin will be available for visiting with the boys individually or in small groups during several designated times or by appointment.
England Hockey also had a very fitting (englandhockey.co.uk) tribute to this young man on their site.
We mapped several locations relevant to this propeller accident off the south /southern coast of England in an interactive map.
View Hutton Propeller Accident – Near Isle of Wight in a larger map
The Charlie Hutton Isle of Wight propeller accident received major press coverage in the UK.
Coroner’s Inquest
A Coroners Inquest was held on the Isle of Wight on January 31, 2013. We provide detailed coverage of the inquest at Charlie Hutton Corner’s Inquest Calls for Raising the Awareness of Propeller Guards.