Olympic rower Jack Beaumont has described the fear he experienced during a "river rage" incident on the Thames where a motorboat driver allegedly attempted to ram him and other rowers. Beaumont, who won silver in the men's quadruple sculls at the Tokyo Olympics five years ago, stated he was "frightened" that the 67-year-old motorboat driver might "really ram into me."
The incident occurred early Sunday morning near Maidenhead. Beaumont intervened after observing the motorboat, reportedly on the wrong side of the river according to navigation rules, appear to collide with another rower. Footage of the event shows the motorboat captain directing abuse at Beaumont.
Beaumont, a two-time Olympian, was training when he saw the motorboat approaching two single sculls. "When you're rowing, you're going backwards so [the rowers] weren't expecting him and then at the last second they noticed," Beaumont told The Times. "One of them managed to manoeuvre around him but the other one hit the boat."
He added that the motorboat captain "just lost his mind" and began shouting threateningly at the rowers. "I was quite concerned because of the way he was speaking to them, I was quite afraid he might hurt them," Beaumont said.
After advising the other rowers to record the boat's name, believed to be the Mayfair Lady, Beaumont turned his attention to the captain. The motorboat driver then reportedly reversed in an attempt to ram Beaumont's scull. One witness described the incident as "highly dangerous," stating the powerboat "ran somebody over" and that the captain "tried to ram Jack in his boat. This could have been life-threatening, if not fatal."
The motorboat captain was heard shouting that he had done "nothing wrong" and that the rowers "think you own the water." He also reportedly revved his engine and threatened to "ram" something down Beaumont's throat.
Sources indicated that Beaumont lured the speedboat away from the other rowers, potentially preventing a worse outcome. "You have to wonder what could have happened if there wasn't someone as able as Jack on hand," a source commented.
The motorboat captain was arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill, assault, and using a watercraft in a manner that endangered a structure or individual. He remained in custody on Tuesday.
Beaumont, who previously rowed for Maidenhead Rowing Club, has a history of overcoming significant injuries. He broke his back in 2015 but recovered to compete in the Rio Olympics the following year. His father, Peter Beaumont, is also an Olympic oarsman.