Olympic silver medallist Jack Beaumont has detailed a frightening encounter on the River Thames where he feared being rammed by a motorboat. The incident occurred last Sunday morning near Maidenhead Rowing Club.
Beaumont, 32, was on the water around 7 a.m. when he observed a motorboat heading towards a scull with a club member onboard. He called out to the motorboat's skipper, who then turned his vessel toward Beaumont. "I was worried he was going to ram into me," Beaumont stated, describing the skipper's behavior as "erratic" and "volatile."
Footage obtained by the Daily Mail appears to capture the motorboat's owner shouting at Beaumont. The rower attempted to de-escalate the situation, but the motorboat reportedly made contact with the first scull and its occupant. The skipper then allegedly continued to verbally abuse Beaumont as he rowed away.
"I can’t remember what he was saying but it was very, very threatening," Beaumont said. "It was frightening because he was so erratic, he was so volatile."
Thames Valley Police have arrested a 67-year-old man in connection with the incident. He was bailed on suspicion of criminal damage, threats to kill, common assault, and using a watercraft in a manner that endangered a structure or individual. Detectives are appealing for witnesses who may have footage of the event.
Maidenhead Rowing Club, which is 150 years old, issued a statement condemning the abuse Beaumont received, calling it "entirely unacceptable" and affirming that the club "will not tolerate any act that puts our members, or any other user of the river, at risk."