Speedboat Crash Kills 'brightest Spark'

The Age

Monday December 29, 2008

By SARAH-JANE COLLINS with AAP

FOUR days ago Mark Hardman's only daughter was by his side for Christmas dinner. Early yesterday morning, the teenager died when she was thrown from a speedboat that hit a tree on Lake Eildon, north-east of Melbourne.

"Cuddle your kids while you've got the chance because they could be gone in a flash," Mr Hardman said yesterday. "This has got to be the worst day of our lives."

Casey Hardman, 18, was holidaying with friends and her older brother, Jordan, 22, when the incident happened.

Mr Hardman remembered his youngest child fondly. "Casey is my brightest spark ... (she) was the life of the party and I know she's going to be certainly missed by many of us."

Ms Hardman was a passenger in a speedboat driven by a 16-year-old youth and was thrown overboard when it hit a tree in the lake about 1.30am.

The driver searched for her and went to a nearby houseboat for help when he could not find her. When a search group found Ms Hardman, they were unable to revive her.

Sergeant Steve McRae of Eildon said Ms Hardman had head and chest injuries. It was believed she died from the injuries, not drowning.

An autopsy is expected to be performed soon. Sergeant McRae said the driver was licensed and would undergo a blood-alcohol test. He did not know if the boat had lights but it appeared to have hit the tree hard.

The driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to Maroondah Hospital with a suspected broken arm. He was discharged yesterday afternoon.

In Eildon, a popular boating and water-skiing holiday spot, people were shocked.

A staff member at the Lake Eildon marina said the Hardmans were regular visitors and owned a houseboat moored at the marina. "We're all very disturbed by (Ms Hardman's death) and saddened by it," she said.

The lake had a lot of trees around it and it could be hard to see them at night, she said. "In the dark, you just don't see (the trees) and there are quite a lot poking out due to the lowish water level."

Friends of the former Tintern Girls Grammar student expressed their grief on the social networking site Facebook. "RIP Casey. You were so full of life. I'll miss you," one friend said.

"(I) cannot believe the news and (am) numb about Casey. Such a beautiful girl," said another.

"You were a gorgeous girl and you will be missed," a third friend said. --With AAP

© 2008 The Age

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