A teenage boy is likely to be charged after an Australia Day Boat crash claimed the life of a 16-year-old girl.
Darcy Davey-Sutherland was killed on Friday when two tinnies collided just after 10.15 am near Grays Point, in south Sydney.
Witnesses have since told police they saw one of the boats travelling at a high speed near the Swallow Rock area shortly before the crash, the Daily Telegraph reports.
The two drivers of the boats, both boys aged 16, were taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
NSW Police detectives are investigating whether speed was a factor and said it was likely one of the boys would be charged over the fatal crash.
It’s understood the pair were unknown to each other, and police do not believe the boats were racing.
Darcy Davey-Sutherland (pictured) was killed after two boats collided in south Sydney on Australia Day
In a devastating statement following the tragedy, Darcy’s parents Michael and Laura described their only daughter as a ‘beacon of light’ with a ‘beautiful soul, so full of love and life’.
‘A wonderful older sister to her two brothers and an angel of a daughter, it’s impossible to comprehend life without her in it,’ Mr and Mrs Davey-Sutherland said.
‘She was about to embark on the most special part of life as she stepped into adulthood. Words cannot describe the pain we feel at the moment.’
Darcy (pictured) was pulled unconscious from the water and rushed to St George Hospital where she died a short time later
Darcy, her parents and two brothers moved to Australia from the UK about seven years ago.
Mr Davey-Sutherland added that the family are ‘deeply grateful’ for the love and support they have received over the past few days as they try to ‘piece together what feels like shattered lives’.
Scott Edwards was on a nearby boat with his wife, sister-in-law and her partner when Darcy was hurt.
His sister-in-law’s partner saw the collision and the group raced over – becoming the first bystanders on the scene.
‘When I turned around, we saw her face down in the water. One of the kids in the other boat dove in to grab her,’ he said.
‘We got there about 40 seconds later and I dove in [the water] while my brother-in-law was on the phone to emergency services.
‘It looks as though the boat has hit her and knocked her out a split second before impacting the boat.’
Mr Edwards said he was still struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.
Darcy’s parents described her as a ‘beacon of light’ with a ‘beautiful soul, so full of love and life’ (pictured, distressed bystanders at the scene of the crash)
‘It was extremely tough to see,’ he said.
‘I did everything I could to try and save her life.’
On the night before Darcy was meant to start Year 11, her friends shared tributes online and said school wouldn’t be the same without ‘beautiful Darcy’.
‘Will forever love you. You will forever be missed my beautiful angel, I will never forget our time together,’ one wrote.
‘Rest in peace Darcy. Our hearts are broken. You were the most beautiful soul. We love you and miss you angel,’ another said.
Darcy’s younger brother Zayn has led tributes to the beloved teenager as friends flock to Ms Sutherland’s TikTok page to offer the family their condolences.
‘God bless u sis,’ Zayn wrote, alongside a heart emoji, in the comment section of her most recent video.
Ms Sutherland’s cousin Finley Docherty shared a video featuring photos of the pair together when they were younger.
He described her as the ‘best cousin in the world’ and said she would ‘forever be in my heart’.
‘I don’t want to say goodbye because this one means forever,’ the video script read.
‘Now you’re in the stars, six feet has never felt so far.’
New South Wales police said it is likely someone will be charged over the crash that killed Darcy (pictured)
Friend Amelie said Ms Sutherland always looked out for her.
‘I will never forget the times you have helped me,’ she wrote.
‘I will love you forever and ever. Rest in peace my beautiful girl.’
‘I am heartbroken for this beautiful girl gone too soon,’ another wrote.
‘I pray for your family to find the strength to live with their forever broken heart, keeping your memory alive. Rest beautiful girl.’
A GoFundMe for Darcy’s family has raised more than $50,000 since it was created on Saturday.
Police urged anyone who witnessed the crash, or who may have seen either boat that morning to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
