British Olympic silver medallist Jack Beaumont stepped in on Sunday after a heated confrontation erupted on the River Thames.
The 32-year-old rowing star was on the water when a speedboat allegedly struck a member of Maidenhead Rowing Club who was out in a small rowing boat.
Beaumont challenged the speedboat’s skipper, asking why he had driven his 18-foot vessel towards the narrow craft, commonly known as sculls.
The boat, understood to be named the Mayfair Lady, then reportedly accelerated in Beaumont’s direction.
Video obtained by the Daily Mail appeared to show the captain launching into an abusive tirade at Beaumont, calling him a ‘c***’ and telling him to ‘shut your f***ing mouth’.
The speedboat captain then appeared to reverse towards Mr Beaumont in a bid to ram his vessel.
Mr Beaumont, who won silver in the men’s quadruple sculls at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, skilfully rowed away from the danger and then lured the speedboat operator away from frightened rowers further down the river.
Thames Valley Police arrested a 67-year-old man from Windsor on suspicion of ‘threats to kill and using a watercraft in a manner that endangered a structure or individual.’
The speedboat owner is understood to have circled around rowers before taking aim at at least two boats.
The speed boat’s skipper starts shouting at Jack Beaumont who is trying to calm him down
The speed boat captain reverses at Mr Beaumont who gets out of the way in his scully on the Thames
The rower won a silver medal at the Summer Olympics in 2020 in Tokyo, Japan
One rower, who was a witness, said: ‘I was about a couple of hundred yards away going upstream. I saw that there was a speedboat owner pulling out from the bank.
‘He charged over and rammed a rowing boat and the man in the man nearly went in. This is someone in a power boat running somebody over which is highly dangerous.
‘Jack shouted out “What are you doing?”
‘The man on the speedboat then started f***ing and blinding at Jack and tried to ram Jack in his boat. This could have been life-threatening if not fatal.’
It is understood the speedboat owner sometimes lives onboard his boat and has previously argued with club members.
He was heard shouting to Jack from his decking: ‘I did nothing wrong. You f***ers think you own the water.’
The captain revs his engine and yells he will ‘ram’ something down Mr Beaumont’s throat.
A source said: ‘Jack lured the speedboat away from the rowers. You have to wonder what could have happened if there wasn’t someone as able as Jack on hand.
‘If the rowers were only taking their first lessons it could have been so much worse.’
Puzzled witnesses look on as the exchange intensifies with Mr Beaumont attempting to steer clear
Before the Summer 2020 Olympics, Mr Beaumont raced for Maidenhead Rowing Club but broke his back in 2015 in a career-threatening injury during a training session with Team GB in Portugal.
His father, Peter, was a fellow Olympian who came fourth in the 1988 Summer Olympics.
Maidenhead Rowing Club was founded in 1876 making this year its 150 anniversary.
The exclusive club is part of the salubrious neighbourhood called ‘Hollywood on Thames’.
The riverbank is home to athletes and celebrities including fellow Olympian gold medallist in free-style swimming Tom Dean, and the late television interviewer Sir Michael Parkinson.
Maidenhead Rowing Club produces world-class rowing talent including Olympic gold medallist Bertram Bushnell and silver medallist Rob Williams. It also holds an annual regatta.
A spokeswoman for Thames Valley Police said: ‘A 67-year-old man from Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, threats to kill, a Section 4 Public Order Act offence, common assault, and using a watercraft in a manner that endangered a structure or individual.
‘He remains in police custody at this time while the investigation continues.’
A spokesman said: ‘Maidenhead Rowing Club can confirm that this morning one of our members, rowing a single scull on the river, was involved in a collision with another river user.
‘The individual then headed toward a second member of our club. Damage was caused to club equipment as a result.
The speed boat gives chase to Mr Beaumont who lures it down the River Thames and into the distance
‘We regard this as a serious and dangerous incident. The safety of everyone on the water is our absolute priority, and behaviour of this kind, endangering other river users in this way, is entirely unacceptable.
‘We will not tolerate any act that puts our members, or any other user of the river, at risk.
‘Maidenhead Rowing Club has stood for community, respect and mutual care on this stretch of the river for 150 years, and this morning’s incident is understandably worrying for the local community and our members; we are currently supporting our members at this time.
‘We are grateful to the emergency services for their swift response, and to members of the public who stopped to check on the welfare of those involved. Your concern and support are sincerely appreciated by everyone at the club.
‘Thames Valley Police is currently investigating, and we would encourage anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has any information, video or photographs that may assist, to contact Thames Valley Police quoting reference 431/30th August 2026, via 101 or online, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
‘The wellbeing of our members involved is being fully supported, and we will not be commenting further while the police investigation is ongoing.’