Boatman killed in Thames fall was planning to wed girlfriend

The family of a teenage boatman who died after falling into the Thames paid tribute to him today - and revealed he had been planning to marry.

Ben Woollacott, 19, came from five generations of boatmen and was son of Cruise London boss Stephen Woollacott. He was in his final year as an apprentice when he was killed while working on the Woolwich ferry.

His father, who lives in Surbiton with wife Jane and Ben's siblings Georgia, Michael and Carla, said he could have gone on to be a captain of the Woolwich ferry or the cruise boat Pride of London. He said: "He was a good waterman, he was a wise head on young shoulders. He was just so full of life."

Ben lived with his mother Sandra and sister Jade in Swanley, Kent. Mr Woollacott and Michael, 16, who is also an apprentice boatman, were at home preparing for work when they received a call telling them of the accident.

He said: "We knew we had lost him before we left home. It has hit Michael hard, he was just starting to learn the game and his brother was his mentor.

"He was really popular. We are getting letters from everywhere, people saying what a lovely boy he was. He was just so loved. The boy had a heart of gold." Mr Woollacott, 49, also revealed that Ben had got engaged to Jade Humphreys days before the fatal accident.

He said Ben had been with Miss Humphreys before he left work on the day of the accident, August 3. He said: "The solace that we have got is that he was at his happiest. They had only been going out for a year but they really hit it off."
Miss Humphreys, 18, from Putney, said: "He was very lively and kept me going. He changed my life."

Ben died after falling from the ferry while untying mooring ropes and being dragged under the propellers. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is leading an inquiry. Hundreds of people from the boating community were attending Ben's funeral at 1.45pm today at All Hallows by the Tower Church.