Donald Campbell - Recovery of Bluebird

Recovery of Bluebird

The wreckage of Campbell's craft was recovered by the Bluebird Project between October 2000 when the first sections were raised and June 2001 when Campbell's body was recovered. The largest section comprising approximately two thirds of the centre hull was raised on 8 March 2001. The project began when diver Bill Smith was inspired to look for the wreck after hearing the Marillion song "Out of This World" (from the album Afraid of Sunlight), which was written about Campbell and Bluebird.

The recovered wreck revealed that the water brake had deployed after the accident as a result of stored accumulator pressure; Campbell would not have had time to deploy the relatively slow-moving brake as the boat flipped out of control. The boat still contained fuel in the engine fuel lines, discounting the fuel-starvation theory. The wreckage all evidenced an impact from left to right, wiping the whole front of the boat off in that direction. Campbell's lower harness mounts had failed and were found to be effectively useless.

Campbell's headless body was recovered from the lake on 28 May 2001, still wearing his blue nylon overalls.

Campbell was interred in Coniston cemetery on 12 September 2001 after his coffin was carried around the lake. A funeral service was then held at St Andrew's Church in Coniston a funeral service in Coniston village attended by his widow Tonia, daughter Gina, other members of his family, members of his former team, and admirers. The funeral was overshadowed in the media due to coverage of the 9/11 attacks in the United States. Jean Wales (Donald Campbell's sister) had, however, been against the recovery of her brother's body out of respect for his stated wish that, in the event of something going wrong, "Skipper and boat stay together". When Donald Campbell was buried in Coniston cemetery on 12 September 2001 she did not attend the service. Steve Hogarth, lead singer for Marillion, was also present at the funeral and performed the song "Out of This World" solo.