Man, 22, drowned after fall from powerful jet ski

ATHRILL-SEEKING 22-yearold who had gone out on a friend’s new jet ski without a life jacket drowned at sea in Teignmouth, an inquest has heard.

Billy Cochrane, of Torquay, was found unconscious in the water by the RNLI on May 26, 2020, shortly after becoming parted from the jet ski.

An inquest held in Plymouth yesterday heard how his best friend, Logan Crook, had found a high-powered jet ski for sale on Facebook which he bought for £5,000.

In a statement he told how they both shared a love of motocross bikes and watersports.

He recalled how the day before the accident, Mr Cochrane has been ‘down in the dumps and stressed’ after breaking up with a girlfriend, and how they had been to play crazy golf and shared some brandy and cannabis.

On the morning of Mr Cochrane’s death, they had test-driven and bought the jet ski, which did not come with a life jacket, and both took turns that evening riding it and doing manoeuvres off the Teignmouth coast.

Mr Cochrane, who was born in High Wycombe, had been enjoying a final ride at about 8.50pm when he came off the jet ski and disappeared from sight. The weather conditions were described as calm with good visibility.

Mr Crook, who described his friend as competitive, said: “I watched him do some figures of eight and he appeared to be drifting to the pier. I took my eyes off him for two minutes and the next thing about a mile out I saw a black blip in the shipping lane.”

He recalled how at first he was calm and wasn’t anxious, but when he could not see any sign of his friend he called the emergency services.

He said: “I thought he came off and was waiting for him to swim back.”

Mr Cochrane was found close to the jet ski by the RNLI who carried out resuscitation but were unable to revive him.

The cause of his death was confirmed as drowning. Toxicology results revealed previous use of cocaine, possibly the day before his death, possible cannabis use, and a low alcohol level.

Given the low amounts, the coroner concluded it was ‘highly unlikely’ to have affected his handling of the jet ski.

An examination of the jet ski confirmed there were no mechanical defects which could have caused or contributed to the incident.

The officer in the case, Det Con Ann Cain, told the inquest there were no suspicious circumstances. She confirmed he had not been wearing a life jacket but that the kill cord mechanism on the jet ski would have been in operation.

She said: “My view would be it was a very powerful jet ski and he became separated from it and it then stopped.”

Recording a conclusion of accidental death, coroner Ian Arrow said: “It appears Mr Cochrane seems to have been using a jet ski and he has become parted from that jet ski. There is no evidence he intended to go out at sea and end his own life.”

He added: “Sadly he did not have a life jacket on at the time.”