A 51-year-old powerboat driver has died after crashing into a houseboat during a ‘high-speed’ race in Suffolk.
Brett Duncan has died following the collision during the international competition at the Lowestoft & Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club, which had promised a ‘display of high-speed action on the water, featuring skilled drivers’.
Coastguard, crews and police rushed to the scene at Oulton Broad in Lowestoft just after 7.10pm following a crash near a water sports centre.
The East of England Ambulance Service and the Coastguard were also called to the scene on Thursday night.
The race organisers said the event would be ‘a showcase of speed, skill, and determination’ on ‘challenging courses’.
It is believed a race had been ongoing at the venue around 6pm, with Circuit Powerboat Association describing the incident as a ‘lone racing accident’.
Suffolk Constabulary and the Marine Accident Investigation Bureau (MAIB) have since launched a probe into the incident.
Circuit Powerboat Association have confirmed that powerboat driver Brett Duncan, 51, has died after crashing into a houseboat
Brett was competing at the international competition at the Lowestoft & Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club
Brett Duncan has died following the collision during the international competition at the Lowestoft & Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club. Pictured: Powerboat racer Brett Duncan
A general view of Oulton Broad where a powerboat has collided with a stationary houseboat on Thursday evening
Coastguard, crews and Sussex Police rushed to the scene at Oulton Broad just after 7.10pm following the crash near the Water Sports Centre
A statement from the Circuit Powerboat Association reads: ‘Following on from a racing incident that took place at the Lowestoft & Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club on Thursday July 24 2025, we are sad to confirm that circuit powerboat racer, Brett Duncan (51) has unfortunately succumbed to the injuries that he sustained in a lone racing accident.
‘As an experienced and popular member of the power boating community, we are shocked and saddened by Brett’s untimely passing and our sincere thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends at this tragic time.
‘We would like to express our thanks and gratitude to all of the event staff and the emergency services for their swift and timely response to the incident.
‘Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, there will be no further details released at this time.
‘We also request that the family is given the privacy that they need to grieve.’
Suffolk Police said officers were called just after 7.10pm to reports of a ‘collision involving a powerboat and a stationary houseboat in the vicinity of Oulton Broad Water Sports Centre’.
‘The East of England Ambulance Service, Coastguard and a volunteer paramedic from Suffolk Accident Rescue Service (SARS) were also on the scene but, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the driver of the powerboat – a man aged in his 50s – sadly died at the scene,’ the force said.
‘There were no other injuries as a result of the collision.
‘Police are working closely with partners and other agencies in relation to the incident.’
This is a breaking news story. More to follow
