Boat seen travelling at high speed before crash killed ‘beautiful soul’ Darcy Davey-Sutherland, 16

A teenage boy is likely to be charged after a tragic Australia Day boating accident which claimed the life of teenage schoolgirl Darcy Davey-Sutherland.

Grays Point boat crash victim Darcy Davey-Sutherland, left. The teen died when two boats collided at Grays Point. Pictures: Supplied

A teenage boy is likely to be charged after a tragic Australia Day boating accident which claimed the life of schoolgirl Darcy Davey-Sutherland, police said.

Darcy, 16, who should be starting year 11 this week at Port Hacking high school, in Sydney’s south, was one of three friends in a runabout tinny when it collided with another small aluminium vessel at Grays Point on Friday.

Witnesses have told police they saw one of the boats travelling at high speed around the Swallow Rock area shortly before the crash, which happened about 10.30am.

Darcy was wearing a lifejacket, but police are now investigating whether she was fatally struck when the boats collided, and then thrown into the water from which she was pulled unconscious.

It is understood the drivers of each boat, both boys aged 16, were not known to each other, and police do not believe the boats were racing.

Darcy’s distraught parents described their daughter as a “beautiful soul, so full of love and life”. Picture: Facebook

“It’s very much early in the investigation, but we will look at whether speed was a factor … and even some inattention,” a NSW Police spokesman said.

Both drivers were taken to hospital for mandatory testing. Police said it was likely someone would be charged over the crash which killed Darcy.

‘BEAUTIFUL SOUL’

In a heartbreaking statement, Darcy’s distraught parents Michael and Laura said their eldest child and only daughter was a “beautiful soul, so full of love and life”.

“A wonderful older sister to her two brothers and an angel of a daughter, it’s impossible to comprehend life without her in it,” Mr and Mrs Davey-Sutherland said.

“She was about to embark on the most special part of life as she stepped into adulthood. Words cannot describe the pain we feel at the moment.”

The family, who moved to Sydney from England about seven years ago, said Darcy was “the beacon of light within our family spanning both the UK and Australia.”

Paramedics and intensive care specialists who were winched in by helicopter worked for almost an hour to stabilise Darcy before rushing her to St George Hospital where she died a short time later.

“My heart goes out to the ambulance officers, we saw how much you did to try and save that young woman,” one person posted on social media.

On the eve of school returning, friends said class would not be the same without “beautiful Darcy”.

“Will forever love you. You will forever be missed my beautiful angel, I will never forget our time together,” a school friend wrote.

Another person posted: “Rest in peace Darcy. Our hearts are broken. You were the most beautiful soul. We love you and miss you angel”.

Police urged anyone who witnessed the crash, or who may have seen either boat on the water that morning to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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