Jetski rider who killed kayaking teenager breaks down when he pleads guilty iin court


Jetski rider who killed a kayaking teenager when he struck him in the water breaks down as he admits he had been drinking alcohol prior to the crash

  • Liddell cried pleading guilty to causing death and harm by dangerous driving
  • The Craigmore man killed a 14-year-old when he hit the boy with his Jetski
  • The boy was on a family trip to learn to kayak when he was fatally hit by Liddell
  • Liddell had a BAC reading of 0.08 when he killed the boy from Roxby Downs 


A jetski rider who killed a 14-year-old kayaker during a crash has broken down during his first court appearance. 

Daniel Patrick Liddell, 43, appeared before the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday over the death of Cooper Henke.

The boy had been on a family trip at Murkbo on December 16, when he was struck by the jetski while kayaking.

He was pulled unconscious from the water and died at the scene.

Liddell pleaded guilty to causing death and harm by dangerous driving, his BAC was 0.08 when he hit Cooper Henke (pictured) and another child

Liddell pleaded guilty to causing death and harm by dangerous driving, his BAC was 0.08 when he hit Cooper Henke (pictured) and another child 

‘We were all learning to use our kayaks and paddle boards in the sea and on the river while we travelled in our new caravan as a family,’ his mother Renee Henke told The Advertiser. 

Another younger child also sustained minior injuries and was taken to hospital as a precaution at the time. 

Liddell pleaded guilty to causing death and harm by dangerous driving on Wednesday. 

Henke (pictured) was an avid watersports enjoyer and his family were learning to use kayaks and stand-up paddle boards in Murbko

Henke (pictured) was an avid watersports enjoyer and his family were learning to use kayaks and stand-up paddle boards in Murbko 

The court heard that the Craigmore man had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08 when he crashed his jetski into two children in the water at Murbko last december. 

Like car drivers, boat captains and jet skiers legally must comply with the 0.05 blood-alcohol limit. 

Liddel broke down and cried in court as he pleaded guilty. 

He will be placed on bail to face District Court in April for arraignment before sentencing.

Henke (pictured) was on a family trip to the River Murray when he was hit by Liddell on a jetski

Henke (pictured) was on a family trip to the River Murray when he was hit by Liddell on a jetski

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