Olympic silver medallist Jack Beaumont was allegedly pursued and threatened by a powerboat driver after intervening in a collision involving another sculler on the River Thames.
The confrontation began near Maidenhead Rowing Club at about 07:15 BST on Sunday, 30 August. Thames Valley Police said a white and blue boat was being steered dangerously when it made contact with a rowing boat and its occupant.
Beaumont, the 32-year-old Tokyo 2020 men’s quadruple sculls silver medallist, challenged the powerboat’s driver after seeing the incident. The boat then approached his single while he tried to row away, police said.
Footage of the confrontation appears to show the driver shouting abuse at Beaumont before reversing the boat towards his scull. The reported attempt to ram Beaumont and the threats made during the exchange are allegations.
A 67-year-old man from Windsor was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and threats to kill. The allegations also include an offence under the Public Order Act, common assault and using a watercraft in a manner that endangered a structure or individual. Police said he remained in custody while their investigation continued.
Collision off Maidenhead Rowing Club
A rower who witnessed the opening collision told the Daily Mail that the powerboat had pulled away from the bank before heading towards a sculler.
“He charged over and rammed a rowing boat and the man in it nearly went in [the water],” the witness said. “This is someone in a power boat running somebody over, which is highly dangerous.”
The witness said Beaumont called out, “What are you doing?” before the driver turned his attention towards the Olympian.
“The man on the speedboat then started effing and blinding at Jack and tried to ram Jack in his boat,” the witness said. “This could have been life-threatening, if not fatal.”
The powerboat, reported to be an 18ft vessel called the Mayfair Lady, appeared to accelerate and reverse near Beaumont’s scull. Beaumont rowed away and drew the boat downriver, away from other club members, the report said.
Maidenhead Rowing Club confirmed that one member had been involved in a collision and that club equipment was damaged. It said the other vessel subsequently headed towards a second member.
“We regard this as a serious and dangerous incident,” the club said. “The safety of everyone on the water is our absolute priority, and behaviour of this kind, endangering other river users in this way, is entirely unacceptable.”
Police appeal for footage
Thames Valley Police appealed for witnesses who were near the club between 07:00 and 07:30 on Sunday. Investigators are seeking footage from CCTV, dashcam or mobile phones and have increased patrols around the area.
“We are treating this investigation as a priority and there will be an increased police presence in the area to provide reassurance to local residents and river users,” Detective Inspector Laura Al-Owaied said.
Beaumont made his Olympic debut at Rio 2016 as a late replacement after recovering from multiple spinal and rib fractures suffered in a 2015 training collision. He later won Tokyo silver with Harry Leask, Angus Groom and Tom Barras before retiring from international rowing in 2021.
The Maidenhead local said at the time that he intended to keep rowing on his home stretch of the Thames.
