DESPERATE BATTLE TO SAVE LIFE OF MATE
A GOLD Coast boat racer involved in a terrifying crash at an overseas XCAT race has revealed his frantic efforts to save his unconscious co-pilot who was trapped in the rapidly flooding cockpit.
Tom Barry-Cotter and copilot Ross Willaton were competing in a UIM XCAT World Championship series event in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, when their Maritimo Racing powerboat collided with Team Australia on Thursday.
Mr Willaton was knocked unconscious and became tangled in his HANS device – a head restraint – when the boat flipped leaving Mr Barry-Cotter desperately battling to free him from the flooded cockpit.
“It was very scary, I had to get him out of his seat, and keep his head above the water flooding in all while trying to get myself out too,” Mr BarryCotter told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
“He ended up getting tangled on his HANS device and I couldn’t get him out, so a diver had another go and couldn’t either. It took another two divers from underneath the boat to pull him out. “It was just awful.
“I was scared for Ross, I tried as hard as I could to free him but in all the safety gear we are wearing it makes it hard to perform a rescue.
“The rescue team were unbelievable. They for sure saved Ross’ life.”
Mr Barry-Cotter said he was trapped in the overturned boat for about a minute but his co-pilot was stuck for up to three minutes inside the completely flooded cabin.
“When the first diver got there and I got out it was about three quarters full of water, so I was holding his (Mr Willaton) head out, but within a few seconds of me getting out, it completely filled and you couldn’t even see him,” he said.
Mr Barry-Cotter has lashed out at the organisers of the global powerboat series after it became mandatory to wear the HANS devices, which limits the head movement of XCAT pilots.
“It is OK in car racing, but not nice to swim around a submerged cockpit with,” said Mr Barry-Cotter, who suffered a badly bruised spleen in the crash.
“The next day all drivers unanimously signed a petition to remove the mandatory status of HANS and make it optional for the drivers because drivers have complained that this might happen.
“The device is designed for cars, and in the instructions is not meant to be used with a life vest that we are already wearing.
“HANS may have had a positive effect in the impact, but we both got tangled on it trying to escape the flooded cockpit, for sure we would be less restricted in escaping we weren’t wearing it.”
Mr Willaton was admitted to hospital with water on his lungs.
It is understood Team Australia collided with Maritimo Racing on the first turn of the first lap of the Fujairah Grand Prix.
Mr Barry-Cotter is a top designer at Maritimo and powerboat racer while Mr Willaton is a company veteran who oversees company serving and warranties.
In 2012, Maritimo won the World Offshore Powerboat Championships in Key West. The XCAT boats are capable of reaching speeds of around 200km/h. if
IT WAS VERY SCARY, I HAD TO GET HIM OUT OF HIS SEAT, AND KEEP HIS HEAD ABOVE THE WATER FLOODING IN ALL WHILE TRYING TO GET MYSELF OUT TOO