Perth Mindarie marina: Boat runs up a ramp and crushes ute

Crazy moment out-of-control boat accelerates into a marina and crushes a VW ute as onlookers run for their lives: ‘All the gear, no idea’

  • The incident was seen on CCTV at Mindarie boat ramp in Perth’s north 
  • An out-of-control boat wildly accelerates into the back of a work ute
  • A man behind the ute is seen to duck just in time to avoid the vessel
  • The boat lands on the jetty of the ramp as owner rushes to check damage


The shocking moment a boat owner accidentally accelerated into a marina, narrowly missing other boats and cars, was caught on CCTV.

Video posted online shows the small boat approaching the Mindarie boat ramp north of Perth, Western Australia, on Sunday afternoon at low speed.

As it approaches the moorings to dock on the right side of the ramp, it suddenly veers right and speeds towards a white work ute loading another boat from the water onto the back.

A man at the back of the VW Amarok ute can be seen to duck out of the way with seconds to spare as the out-of-control boat strikes his car and lands on top of the right jetty of the boat ramp.

A man at the back of the VW Amarok ute ducked out of the way with seconds to spare as the out-of-control boat struck his car (above) and landed on top of the right jetty of the boat ramp

It’s believed the owner was queueing at the marina before loading his boat out of the water when he slipped and jammed the throttle, sending the boat rapidly into the ute and the ramp.

A man in a black singlet can be seen to run to the back of the boat after it comes to a stop, throwing his hands to his head.

One eagle-eyed observed noted the motor powering the boat was 300HP. 

No-one was reported as injured in the incident.

It's believed the owner was queueing at the marina before loading his boat out of the water when he slipped and jammed the throttle, sending the boat rapidly into the ute and the ramp

It’s believed the owner was queueing at the marina before loading his boat out of the water when he slipped and jammed the throttle, sending the boat rapidly into the ute and the ramp

Andrew, the Amarok owners, told WA Incident Alerts the boat launched itself ‘off my Amarok’.

‘I had to run out the way literally, otherwise this boat was going to hit me — the engine and everything basically

‘I (broke) my shoes to get out the way. So yeah, how the hell somebody didn’t get killed…’

‘My son was in the boat and he was completely shocked by it. It’s just unbelievable. I can’t believe it.’

The incident had already attracted thousands of comments online from boaties. 

‘When someone insists on driving the boat onto the trailer cause they can’t be bothered winding it on,’ a person commented on the posts about the incident.

‘The entertainment that can be had at the boat ramp is unsurpassed, as long as you are not waiting in line to get your own in or out,’ another remarked.

‘All the gear, no idea,’ more than one person posted. 

The incident came just a couple of weeks after WA's Department of Transport announced a 'pre-summer safety blitz' on boats, trailers and equipment

The incident came just a couple of weeks after WA’s Department of Transport announced a ‘pre-summer safety blitz’ on boats, trailers and equipment

Ironically the incident came just a couple of weeks after WA’s Department of Transport announced a ‘pre-summer safety blitz’ on boats, trailers and equipment along the coastline’s boat ramps. 

‘Over the next three weekends DoT Marine Officers will target boat ramps … safety checking hundreds of vessels before they launch,’ the news release from the department stated. 

The department responded to questions from Daily Mail Australia by saying it will investigate the boat ramp incident.

‘Those involved and witnesses will be asked to participate to determine the cause and whether the use of a safety lanyard could have prevented the incident,’ the department said in a statement. 

‘Recent boating deaths and incidents in WA could have been avoided with the use of a safety lanyard which automatically stops a vessel’s motor if the skipper falls overboard or leaves the steering position.’

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk