AN ORPINGTON mother wept as she told a court how her toddler died when an out-of-control speedboat crashed into a packed beach in the Bahamas.

Andrea Gallagher tearfully recalled how her two-year-old son Paul was mown down as he lay sleeping at a luxury resort.

He died in hospital five days later having suffered horrendous head injuries.

Three men are now standing trial in the Bahamas over the youngster’s death.

Mrs Gallagher, 41, told a jury in the island’s capital Nassau the family were sunbathing on the beach at the Atlantis Paradise Island resort in August 2002 when tragedy struck.

She said she heard a “loud blast” before seeing a “huge” white speedboat churning up the sand and heading directly towards the family.

And she sobbed as she remembered watching people tending to crying Paul’s injuries.

“His head was split open,” she told the Supreme Court. “A huge chunk of his head was missing. And I could see into my own child’s brain.”

She added: “This doesn’t happen when you’re on holiday with your children.”

Boat driver James Bain, and boat owners Clifford Nottage and Evangeless Williamson all deny manslaughter through negligence. Williamson denies a further charge of perjury.

Mrs Gallagher and her husband Paul, of Repton Road, Orpington, have fought a six-year legal battle for charges to be brought.

The couple had saved up for years to treat their family – including daughter Heather, now 11, and Andrew, now six – to the holiday.

The trial continues.

From the Nassau Guardian, www.thenassauguardian.com