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Pictured: Girl, 15, killed after speedboat collided with buoy in waters near Southampton

(Facebook)
Emily Lewis, 15, died after a speedboat crash near Southampton on Saturday. (Facebook)

A 15-year-old girl has died after she and her family were involved in a speedboat crash.

Emily Lewis was on board a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) that collided with a buoy in waters near Southampton on Saturday morning.

A local mariner said conditions were difficult at the time of the crash, with winds of up to 46mph.

The teenager, who was conscious when she was taken ashore, died later in hospital.

She had been on the boat, which was heading into the Solent strait, with her sister Amy, 19, and her parents Simon and Nikki, from Park Gate, Hampshire.

Amy and Mrs Lewis suffered broken arms in the crash. The boat was carrying 12 people when it struck a navigation buoy. All the passengers received hospital treatment.

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A local mariner told the PA news agency that navigation markers in the Solent were usually very large and could be the size of a small car.

He said conditions in the Solent had been very difficult on Saturday, with strong spring tides coupled with winds of 8 on the Beaufort Scale at times – up to 46mph.

(Facebook)
Emily Lewis, 15, was on the boat with her sister and her parents when it crashed. (Facebook)

Three lifeboats, a coastguard rescue team and the ambulance service attended the scene.

Police have opened an investigation alongside the Maritime & Coastguard Agency and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch.

Police are appealing for information and video footage from witnesses to the crash, which happened at 10.10am on Saturday in Southampton Water between Netley Abbey and Hythe Pier.

Hampshire Constabulary has declined to name the owners of the RIB involved, but confirmed the boat had been on a commercial trip run by a local company.

(Facebook)
Emily Lewis, 15, died after a speedboat crash in the Solent on Saturday. (Facebook)

Detective Superintendent Neil Corrigan said: “This was a tragic incident and our thoughts remain with the young girl’s family at this difficult time.

“We are now building a picture of what happened on the water that day and the circumstances leading up to this collision.

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“It is important that we gather as much visual evidence as we can, as well as accounts from any witnesses.”

He urged passengers on a nearby ferry heading towards East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, which left Southampton at 10am, to get in touch if they have information or video footage.

Anyone with information can contact police on 101, quoting Operation Orange.