Water bike death was accidental

Hannah Sutton was visiting her mother in Cyprus

A teenager was killed in a water bike accident after she and her boyfriend were given "woefully inadequate" instructions, a coroner has said.

Hannah Sutton, 16, of Alderley Edge, Cheshire, died when James Dudley lost control of the jet-powered bike and crashed into her on holiday in Cyprus.

Dudley, 17, of Colwyn Bay, north Wales, was fined £2,000 by a court in Limassol after he admitted causing her death.

South Manchester coroner John Pollard recorded a verdict of accidental death.

"I will be writing to the Foreign Office in the hope that they will warn travellers about the dangers of these vehicles in the hope of preventing a repetition," he said.

I thought I'd just gone off the back of her jet ski but I landed the other side James Dudley

Mr Pollard recorded a verdict of accidental death at Stockport Coroner's Court on Tuesday.

The accident happened on 2 August 2005 while Hannah was in Cyprus visiting her mother and her boyfriend was visiting for a holiday.

The pair hired water bikes at the resort of Pissouri, unaware of the fact they were too young to ride them and needed permits.

Dudley lost control and his machine ran into the back of Hannah's, causing her fatal injuries.

James Dudley was given "woefully inadequate" instruction

The 17-year-old told the inquest the owners had spent "less than a minute" giving him instruction before sending him into the water.

He said the accident happened while Hannah was stationary in the water and he turned to try and avoid her.

"I thought I'd just gone off the back of her jet ski but I landed the other side. I turned round and she was in the water, a couple of metres away from the jet ski," he said.

"I was really confused. I jumped in the water and swam to her. I tried to lift her up but found she was not conscious."

Beach lifeguards came out to the pair as he was trying to get her back on to the machine, he said.

He said: "When they got out of the water they were yelling, they were shouting at me, saying it was stupid."

'Sensible' daughter

The coroner's court heard that the water bikes used by the teenagers were in full working order, though the owner's licences had expired.

Hannah's father Stephen Sutton, a water sports tutor, said his daughter was aware of the dangers of the machines.

He described her as an "intelligent, sensible, outgoing, gregarious, loving, caring young lady".

Speaking about her boyfriend, he added: "James was subject to certain proceedings in Cyprus as a result of the incident, but we do not blame him.

"They had a good relationship and we know he regrets the incident, which will live with him for the rest of his life."