Kiyth floating into new future to ‘make people smile’
A RETIRED NHS worker has created the only inland piloted hovercraft service in the country.
Kiyth Fotitt, of Newark, has been working to make his dream come true for years and officially launched Newark Lokiy Hoverflights Ltd on April 1.
Despite the bad weather, the 66-year-old, the company’s owner, director and pilot, carried over 100 people in the first five days of operation.
Kiyth has overcome obstacle after obstacle, including his recovery after being hit by a car and working in the NHS during the pandemic.
He said: “We started officially on April 1, and it wasn’t an April Fools as it was after dinner. It’s a project that I started to develop about six years ago but sadly before I got the hovercraft, for which I had paid an upfront charge of £24,000, I got run over as a pedestrian in Newark and I couldn’t work for the best part of six months.
“Then the same year, in 2019, the manufacturer of the hovercraft had gone into liquidation. Then the spread of coronavirus strangled the world and I worked in the NHS, so I spent three months on the front line at King’s Mill.”
Kiyth was a healthcare assistant at Newark Hospital for 14 years and also spent 13 years in recreation management. In addition to this, he also ran his own taxi service for 19 years, has a black belt in ninjutsu, is a former lifeguard with open water experience and has years of expertise in power boating.
After the lockdown, Kiyth’s hovercraft idea was put on the backburner while he worked through the pandemic. He finally retired in May last year. Kiyth explained: “I was doing long shifts day in and day out six days a week.”
Kiyth was then able to dedicate his time to creating the hovercraft business and buying the vehicle.
When asked how he got the idea, Kiyth explained that he was watching TV one night and there was a hovercraft segment on How It’s Made.
He said it was a “eureka moment” and, now the company is up and running, he is looking forward to getting out in the fresh air and “making people smile”.
Currently, the hovercraft can operate on two big lakes at Holme Pierrepont, but Kiyth hopes to also offer sessions at Sutton Reservoir if he receives permission.
There are also several land-based options available in Newark, including at Riverside Park, Highfields School, Magnus Academy and Newark Showground.
Kiyth added: “To my knowledge, I’m the only inland piloted hovercraft service.”
The price varies depending on whether it’s on the water or land, and if you’re an adult or child, but prices range from £10 to £30 a person.
The hovercraft can take up to three adults or two adults and two children at a time.