Olympian Jack Beaumont Fears For Life During Thames Motorboat Attack

Jack Beaumont, a silver medallist from Tokyo, spoke out about a terrifying moment on the Thames where he feared for his life. The incident unfolded early Sunday morning near Maidenhead. A motorboat skipper appeared erratic and volatile before colliding with another rower. Footage captured by the Daily Mail shows the captain unleashing abuse at Beaumont. He called him a c*** and ordered him to shut his f***ing mouth.

Beaumont, who is thirty-two years old, told The Times he was genuinely frightened. He believed the sixty-seven-year-old driver would really ram into him next. The two-time Olympian saw the boat approaching two oncoming single sculls from Maidenhead Rowing Club. Those rowers had not spotted it coming because they were moving backwards against the flow of traffic. They only noticed at the last second. One managed to steer around, but the other struck the hull.

The situation escalated quickly. The skipper lost his mind and shouted very threatening things that Beaumont cannot recall clearly now. He was worried about how the man spoke to the others. Beaumont asked the rowers to write down the boat's name, understood to be the Mayfair Lady, before the captain turned his attention fully on him.

Witnesses described the danger vividly. One rower said he saw a speedboat owner pull out from the bank and charge straight over. The man in the other boat nearly went into the water. That is someone running somebody over with power. Beaumont shouted, What are you doing? After hurling more abuse, the skipper reversed his vessel in an apparent bid to ram the athlete's scull.

It is understood the motorboat owner sometimes lives on his craft. He has previously argued with members of Maidenhead Rowing Club. From his deck he yelled at Beaumont: I did nothing wrong. You f***ers think you own the water. The engine revved loudly as he threatened to ram something down Mr Beaumont's throat.

A source noted that Jack lured the speedboat away from the vulnerable rowers. You have to wonder what could have happened if there wasn't someone as able as Jack on hand. If the rowers were only taking their first lessons, it could have been so much worse. The man in the boat almost hit Beaumont again. This could have been life-threatening or even fatal.

Beaumont steered clear and lured the boat down the Thames into the distance. The captain was arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill, assault, and using a watercraft in a manner that endangered an individual or structure. He remained in custody on Tuesday.

This is not Beaumont's first brush with injury. His father, Peter, is also an Olympic oarsman who finished fourth in the men's eight at the 1988 Games in Seoul. Jack broke his back in 2015 during a Team GB training session in Portugal. That was a career-threatening blow yet he went on to place fifth in Rio the following year after replacing Graeme Thomas, who had fallen ill. He raced for Maidenhead Rowing Club before that injury ended his active career earlier.

Established in 1876, the Maidenhead Rowing Club sits within a gated enclave locals call Hollywood on Thames. This private area restricts entry to its residents and club members alike. The rowing facility offers limited access outside of these approved circles. Only those with specific clearance can step onto the water or enter the clubhouse grounds.