A man was overcome with emotion as he narrowly escaped a jail sentence for operating a boat recklessly while intoxicated, leading to a tragic accident that claimed the life of his fiancée and left him devastated.

Brendan Faithfull was navigating the Hawkesbury River in northern Sydney when witnesses reported his vessel moving erratically and at high speed on the night of February 4, 2024.

The 40-year-old was spotted steering the boat without his hands on the wheel and without any clothing.

Faithfull had been consuming alcohol for several hours with his fiancée, Samantha Jones, who tragically died when the boat collided with a riverbank near Wilberforce shortly after 8 PM.

In a desperate attempt to save her life, Faithfull administered CPR for an hour while emergency responders faced challenges accessing the boat, which had crashed into the dense undergrowth along the riverbank.

He was flanked by supporters when he faced a NSW District Court today to be sentenced for driving the boat in a dangerous manner that caused death by impact.

The 40-year-old broke down in sobs and wiped away tears as the judge detailed his last few hours with his fiancee spent at the Patonga Boathouse Hotel before travelling back towards Windsor.

During the return trip, he was spotted driving dangerously close to the riverbank, swerving, taking his hands off the wheel and failing to keep a proper lookout for some time.

“He clearly was showing off, but not for the entirety of the journey,” Judge Jennie Girdham said, ruling Faithfull was “undoubtedly intoxicated”.

Faithfull told the court he regrets his actions and holds himself wholly responsible for the crash, the consequences of which he will have to live with for the rest of his life.

Jones was his soulmate and they had been making plans to spend the rest of their lives together, he wrote in a letter to the court, but her death has left him lost.

The 40-year-old is overwhelmed with remorse and has completely given up drinking as he struggles with his mental health, the court was told.

He has been receiving treatment for major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder in the aftermath of Jones’ death.

“He described periods of overwhelming despair,” Judge Girdham said.

“Samantha’s death has been catastrophic to her family and her friends. The offender is plagued by the knowledge that he was responsible for that catastrophe.”

Faithfull remains close with Jones’ family, who watched the proceedings from overseas after sharing their constant grief at losing their passionate and intelligent daughter who had dreamed of becoming a paramedic.

Jones’ best friend also offered her support to the 40-year-old, telling the court that the death of his fiancee had “broken” him.

“Clearly no sentence will undo the terrible loss,” Judge Girdham said.

The devastating result of Faithfull’s offending meant he was unlikely to reoffend, she found.

“His remorse is much more than grief. His remorse will inform his future life,” the judge said.

She noted that imprisonment would be more onerous for Faithfull given his mental health struggles and his strong support in the community, opting instead for mercy.

Faithfull was sentenced to a 22-month intensive corrections order – the equivalent of a jail term that is served in the community – and barred from holding a boat licence for five years.

He was ordered to complete 240 hours of community service, comply with treatment – including antidepressants and therapy – and continue to abstain from alcohol and drugs.

“The court wishes you well,” Judge Girdham told Faithfull.

“You have the support of your family. Make use of it.”