by Jenni Horn

The parents of a man killed in a power boat race at the weekend have spoken of their grief.

Alex Edmonds, 41, of Grain Road, Lower Stoke, near Rochester died while taking part in the annual Dover Regatta on Saturday.

His parents, Ron and Josephine Edmonds were there to support their son in his first ever competitive race.

~ Dover Regatta hit by tragedy >>>

Josephine said: "He has been messing about on boats all his life."

Ron, 67, described how they watched the tragedy unfold from the seafront. He said: "I was on the west pier watching it through a pair of binoculars.

"I didn't see the collision but I knew there had been an accident. I saw the police towing the boat Alex was in and I could see a paramedic on board and another man leaning over the passenger side trying to give someone oxygen.

"As it got closer I was certain it was Alex, so I made my way to where they were towing the boat ashore. They were just pulling him up on to the beach when I arrived."

Alex leaves behind a daughter Olivia, aged six.

For the full story pick up a copy of Friday's Medway Messenger.

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