Pictured: The moment a jet boat was smashed to pieces in a 145mph crash... and the driver swam away unharmed

This is the astonishing moment a speedboat disintegrated in a high speed crash - and the driver walked away completely unharmed.

Crowds watched in horror as the boat Whiskey River flipped over at 145mph and was smashed into pieces at it repeatedly somersaulted with its driver inside.

Mark Workentine was pulled out of the water and taken to an ambulance - but walked away unhurt, saying his worst injury was a bruise on his arm.


'Anytime you crash these things you are lucky to be alive,' he said just minutes after the crash at the San Diego Thunderboat Regatta.

Later, he said: 'It's awesome. I'm very lucky. I've had friends lose their lives doing it.' Amazingly, he insists it has not dampened his desire to race again.

'I can't wait to get back in,' he said. 'I'd get back in tomorrow if they'd build me another boat.'

Asked how much the broken boat cost, he sighed: 'I don't want to even think about it.' But he admitted that the boat's owner 'is very grumpy with me'.