A father of four who was killed in a speedboat accident along with his eight-year-old daughter was an “extremely loving father, husband, son and brother, who doted on his family”, his brother said today.
Nick Milligan, 51, the managing director of Sky’s advertising sales division, Sky Media, was declared dead at the scene in Padstow, Cornwall, on Sunday afternoon along with his daughter, Emily.
Speaking at a press conference today, Max Milligan also paid tribute to his “delightful niece”.
Detective Superintendent Jim Colwell said that Mr Milligan’s 39-year-old wife Victoria and their four-year-old son Kit remain in hospital with “serious, potentially life changing injuries”, while their two other daughters Amber, 12, and Olivia, 10, suffered minor injuries in the accident.
Max Milligan said: “Nick, or Nico as he was known to us, was an extremely loving father and husband. As children and teenagers we spent many summers and New Year’s Eves at New Polzeath here in Cornwall and a few years ago he built his dream home above Daymer Bay.
“That he and my delightful niece died at their favourite place at the end of a gloriously sunny bank holiday weekend provides us with a tiny glimmer of light. I’d like to thank Devon and Cornwall Police and all the staff at Derriford Hospital who have been incredible over the last few days.”
The family, from Wandsworth, south-west London, were on holiday in the coastal town when they were thrown from the boat which went “out of control” and struck them.
Waterskiing instructor Charlie Toogood has been hailed a hero after he reportedly leapt into the speedboat to turn off its engine and stop it from causing further harm. A second man, Will Jones, was also named as someone who came to their rescue.
Det Supt Colwell told the press conference at Bodmin police station: “Without the brave and heroic efforts of local people and holidaymakers in the minutes immediately after this incident in assisting the family whilst they were in the water, if people hadn’t come to their assistance in the manner that they did, I’m confident that this incident would have been far worse in terms of the overall death toll.”
Det Supt Colwell said the presence of a “kill cord” – a safety device to ensure a boat’s engine is cut if the person in control goes overboard – would form a “key focus” of the investigation into the accident.
He told reporters: “Clearly the reasons why the boat didn’t stop when it otherwise should have done, when there was nobody left on it, is a key part of our investigation.
“The kill cord – the presence of, the state of, and how it was attached or otherwise – will be a key focus of our investigation.”
Sky said in a statement: “Everyone at Sky is deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic accident involving the Milligan family.
“Nick has been a great friend and colleague for many years and his loss will be felt across our company and the industry. Our very deepest sympathies are with his family at this time.”