Venice speedboat crash: Three killed in collision as boat tries to break speed record

Vehicle was attempting to break speed record from Monte Carlo

Three people have been killed in a speedboat crash in Venice as it attempted to break a speed record.

Italian firefighters say the trio, including 76-year-old champion motorboat racer Fabio Buzzi, died when their vessel crashed into an offshore lagoon wall on Tuesday night.

A fourth person on board, who is Italian, was badly injured.

It had initially been reported that two Britons were killed in the accident, but AP later withdrew that statement, following guidance from the Foreign Office.

It is estimated the speedboat was travelling around 140 km/h when it crashed, Il Corriere della Sera reported.

The vessel collided with boulders protecting Venice's flood barrier, the Mose dam, near the finish line at the Lido di Venezia, the BBC reported.

Italian speedboat race officials said the boat was trying to set a speed record for the route from Monte Carlo to Venice.

They said the motorboat began the record attempt on Monday morning and was allowed one fuel stop under the rules.

The team had travelled over 1,200 miles from Monte Carlo in 18 hours and 32 minutes at an average pace of around 100 km/h, Il Corriere said.

According to Il Corriere, Maurizio Darai, who witnessed the crash alongside timekeepers and race officials, said: "We saw them arrive and they were heading slightly towards land.

"Maybe the lights of the harbour entrance confused them and they found themselves up against the lunata (artificial dam)."

Speedboat racer Mr Buzzi has won 10 world championships over a 40-year career and set the world speed record for diesel-powered boats in 1978.

The boat which crashed in Venice is understood to have been capable of reaching 80mph.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.