Iconic hydroplane Bluebird K7 returns to Coniston Water for the first time in almost 60 years after infamous crash that killed its thrill-seeking pilot

By JOSHUA HAINING, NEWS REPORTER Published: 17:30, 11 May 2026 | Updated: 17:45, 11 May 2026 An iconic hydroplane has returned to Coniston Water for the first time in nearly six decades since the infamous crash that killed its pilot. The Bluebird K7, piloted by Donald Campbell, reached a top-speed of 276 miles per hour and set several water speed records before Mr Campbell crashed it in the hunt for a 300mph speed record on Coniston Water in the Lake District in January 1967. After spending 40 years decades gathering algae 142ft down in Coniston Water, the jet-propelled hydroplane was raised from the waters in 2001. And following extensive refurbishment and restoration, it will symbolically complete the runs than its daredevil pilot could not. Thousands are expected to line the lakeside at Coniston for the Bluebird K7 Festival running until Friday that - weather permitting - will see the Bluebird run each day. Mr Campbell's daughter Gina attended the first day of the festival to see her father's Bluebird K7 running in all its former glory, having spent years championing the mission to bring it back to the lake. On the final set of runs, the Bluebird will be piloted by Australian Dave Warby, son of the late Ken Warby MBE, who is the current water speed record holder at 317.6mph.   No attempts will be made to match the speeds achieved by the pilot - but the Bluebird could reach a top-speed of 150mph. The Bluebird K7 hydroplane has returned to the waters that claimed the life of its daredevil pilot Donald Campbell for the first time in nearly 60 years Mr Campbell (pictured) died instantly after the hydroplane took off and crashed into the water nose-first Mr Campbell's daughter Gina (left) has pushed for the boat to make a final symbolic trip since it was raised from the water This year marks the 70th anniversary of Mr Campbell's first world water speed record set on 19 September 1956 at 225.63mph.  He set four water speed records on Coniston Water, his fastest at 260.35mph in May 1959.  The Bluebird was 11 years old at the time of the fatal crash in 1967 - when Mr Campbell was pushing for funding to build a new land speed record car that would take on the Americans. Despite warnings from his engineer and mechanic Leo Villa, Mr Campbell pushed on, piloting the vehicle at up to 70mph faster than its designed limits. He had been attempting to break 300mph and was driving at an estimated 320mph when the vehicle lifted itself out of the water. Bluebird somersaulted and smashed into the water, flipping several times over. Mr Campbell was killed instantly as the vessel disintegrated. He was 45. The hydroplane wreckage along with the pilot's body sank to the bottom of Coniston Water. His teddy bear mascot Mr Whoppit was one of a few relics to rise to the water's surface. It was a tragic end for the daredevil pilot who set several records in the vehicle that would ultimately take his life.  Mr Campbell set a total of eight speed records on land and water during the 1950s and 1960s. He was the first - and only - person to set both a land and water speed record in the same year.  The Bluebird's wreckage was soon discovered but Mr Campbell's family said it should be left in the lake as a memorial. It wasn't until 2001 that the hydroplane and Mr Campbell's body was recovered, race suit intact, from the lake and laid to rest. The majority of the hull was lifted out of the lake and restored in Tyneside by the Bluebird Project, a team led by engineer Bill Smith. The vessel will be piloted by Australian Dave Warby, son of the late Ken Warby MBE who is the current water speed record holder at 317.6mph Thousands are expected at Coniston this week for the Bluebird K7 Festival - effectively a final farewell for the famous hydroplane  The vehicle did make its return to running at Loch Fad on the Isle of Bute, Scotland, in 2018. But Gina wished to bestow the hydroplane at Coniston's Ruskin Museum. Disputes soon arose with the Bluebird as Mr Smith sought to claim part-ownership of the craft and trademark its name.  The bitter legal row was settled in 2024 after an Intellectual Property Office ruling found he had acted in 'bad faith' following an appeal by Mr Campbell's nephew, Donald Wales. On losing the legal battle he said: 'He won the day. Big deal.' Since Mr Smith surrendered the boat, the vessel has been on display at the Ruskin. But behind the scenes, work has been taking place to ensure the boat can have one last run on the water that killed its fearless pilot. A refurbished Bristol–Siddeley Orpheus 101 jet engine – similar to that used in 1967 – was fitted last year.  Engineers have worked for months behind the scene, often on a voluntary basis, to ensure it was ready for its last runs. The Bluebird K7 Festival is running until Sunday. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. 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