Body found in lake is Campbell

Picture gallery: Donald Campbell and Bluebird

Human remains discovered in Coniston Water in the Lake District are those of speedboat ace Donald Campbell, an inquest heard today.

The inquest in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, was told that DNA evidence proved that the remains were 1.9m times more likely to be Campbell's than anyone else.

Divers found his body in May - 34 years after Campbell's water speed record attempt at the lake ended in his death.

Scenes of crime officer Carl Langhorn, of Cumbria police, told the hearing that DNA samples were taken from Campbell's daughter Gina Campbell, 51, who attended the inquest, and his sister Jean Wales.

He said a DNA expert, Dr Tim Clayton, carried out tests on the remains found in Coniston and samples taken from Ms Campbell and Mrs Wales.

"Dr Clayton holds a strong view that the remains are from a person related to Gina and Jean," Mr Langhorn said. "He believes it is 1.9m times more likely that they have originated from the father of Gina than anyone else."

Mr Langhorn told the inquest that other items were recovered from the lake, including a black leather belt and blue and green overalls with union flags on the pocket.

Ms Campbell confirmed to the coroner, Ian Smith, her father's name, date of birth and that he was born in Kingston, Surrey.

Mr Smith said: "The purpose today is to say if we can establish for sure the identity of the remains discovered in the lake and the answer is clearly yes."

"I am satisfied beyond any doubt that the remains are that of Donald Malcolm Campbell CBE."

Mr Smith released the remains so that a funeral can take place and adjourned the hearing so a full inquest can take place at a later date.

Campbell's boat Bluebird was dragged from its watery grave two months ago. The 46-year-old had been trying to break his own water speed record of 276mph on January 4 1967, when the nose of the boat lifted and the craft somersaulted repeatedly, killing him instantly. Campbell had said beforehand that in death the skipper should stay with the craft.

Following their discovery the remains were transported to hospital in Barrow in a blue box draped in a union flag, and DNA samples were taken to test for a positive match.

They were recovered by the same team which salvaged Bluebird to stop it being plundered by trophy hunters.

The craft was first sighted on an underwater camera last December after a four-year search but the 1.5 ton wreckage was only lifted from the lake four months later.

Some of Campbell's clothes, his lifejacket and helmet were recovered, along with his teddy bear mascot, in an operation filmed by the BBC.

In pictures
Donald Campbell and Bluebird

Useful links
Across the lake - Donald Campbell tribute site
Donald Campbell and Bluebird - a photo gallery
Donald Campbell exhibition - The Ruskin Museum, Coniston

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