Anger after jet skier ‘tried to capsize kayakers’
‘THEY WERE DELIBERATELY TRYING TO INFLICT PAIN’
SHOCKING footage shows the terrifying moment a jet skier repeatedly rode towards a man and his nephew kayaking in Gwynedd.
John Cowtan, 42, and his 16-year-old nephew James were paddling off Criccieth last Monday when they were unexpectedly targeted by jet ski users who intentionally splashed them over and over again with their wake.
The incident was witnessed by Mr Cowtan’s wife Catherine and their five-year-old daughter Emily, who watched on helplessly from the beach.
Video footage taken by an onlooker shows that the jet skier returns time and time again to splash the kayakers, even as they try to move away.
Mr Cowtan, from Chwilog, said: “Their behaviour really annoyed me, more so for my nephew who was really shaken up by the incident.
“Three or four of them came over and one splashed me as he passed by. I remember wondering
what that was all about but I didn’t say anything.
“Then they went over to a group of paddleboarders and totally took them out. One of them got back up and got back on, but they just wiped him out again.
“Then they came back to us and tried to capsize us. They were definitely trying to get us out. It was intentional and they were trying to cause harm.
“We just wanted a couple of hours of fishing, but they totally ruined the day for us and for everyone else on the beach.
“It’s a good job they didn’t break down and have to come ashore, because I think they’d have probably been lynched as everyone on the beach was so angry.
“We had to come in, in the end because we were soaked and the kayak was full of water.
“They just wanted to harass and cause trouble, and I think something needs to be done about it.
“They were deliberately targeting people to inflict pain. If you did something like that in the street, you’d be arrested for assault.
“If you were in a car and started doing wheel spins around someone, it would be a police matter because it’s dangerous. This is antisocial behaviour at the very least.”
North Wales
Police said they received several reports that people were riding jet skis in an “aggressive manner”.
A spokesman said: “We received several calls reporting that jet skis were riding in an aggressive manner in Criccieth harbour towards paddle boarders and canoeists.
“The harbourmaster and coastguard were also contacted, and the local lifeboat team launched a craft to deal with the situation.”
Scott Beeland, who runs the Personal Watercraft (PWC) group aimed at promoting the safe use of watercraft, said not all jet ski users are as irresponsible as the ones caught on film.
He said: “We are horrified as a community at the shocking behaviour of this jet skier filmed in Criccieth.
“He is not representative of the responsible majority and is getting no support from the community over his actions.
“All too often when things like this happen, all jet ski users are tarred with the same brush and it turns in to a witch hunt, with people calling for bans on jet skis.
“His actions definitely need criticism but I want people to know that he does not represent the whole jet ski community.
“At PWC Gwynedd, our ethos is one of responsible jet ski use.
“We run an annual jet ski fundraiser and awareness event called the Blackrock Blast to promote responsible riding.
“On the whole, the jet ski community is a responsible one. Unfortunately, one smallminded individual has let us all down very badly.
“At present, the riders are not known to us and are not members of the PWC Gwynedd group.”
A spokesperson for RNLI Criccieth said: “The dangerous actions of a small group of jet skiers was bought to the station’s attention after multiple reports were received of them targeting paddleboarders and kayakers with their wake inside the special marker buoys that denote seasonal safe swimming areas. Footage has been sent to the relevant authorities. Their actions today endangered lives and spoilt enjoyment for a number of people.”