Lake Coniston, Cumberland, UK. Jan 4, 1967. Donald Campbell dies as his jet-powered boat somersaults while attempting the World Water Speed Record. The boat takes off from the surface of Lake Coniston. seuence 1 of 3.
On the morning of January 4, 1967, Donald Malcolm Campbell raced across the top of Coniston Water in the Lake District, England. His mission: break the water-speed record in his craft, Bluebird K7. After a successful, yet bumpy, first run, Campbell decided to skip refueling and turned the boat around to immediately tackle the necessary second run that would solidify a new record. About 230 kilometers from the end of the measured kilometer, Bluebird flew into the air and almost completed a somersault before slamming into the water and breaking apart. Rescue workers rushed ...