Donald Campbell

English racecar driver and land & water speed record holder (1921-1967)

Donald Campbell (March 23, 1921 – January 4, 1967) was a British world record holder who died trying to break the world record of becoming the fastest man on water in 1967. On 4 January that year, his jet powered boat lifted into the air, and was slammed back into the water with so much force, that Campbell died immediately, but his body was not found until 34 years later. Many people have predicted that the crash would not have happened, and was a result of the boat being too light due to a lack of fuel.

Donald Campbell

Memorial to Donald Campbell.
Born
Donald Malcolm Campbell

(1921-03-23)23 March 1921
Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, England
Died4 January 1967(1967-01-04) (aged 45)
Cause of deathHigh-speed crash during water speed record attempt
Body discovered28 May 2001
Resting placeParish Cemetery, Hawkshead Old Road, Coniston
NationalityBritish
Other names"The Skipper"
OccupationSpeed record breaker
Known forMost prolific water speed record breaker of all time
Spouse(s)Daphne Harvey (1945–1951)
Dorothy McKegg (1952–1957)
Tonia Bern (1958–1967)
ChildrenGeorgina (Gina) (1946–)
Parent(s)Malcolm Campbell
Dorothy Evelyn Whittall
AwardsSegrave Trophy (1955)