Jet-ski enthusiast Simon Cave died because of a misjudgement as he tried to playfully spray his companion, an inquest heard yesterday.

Mr Cave, 38, of Charnock View Road, Sheffield, died instantly when he was struck by a jet-ski piloted by Paul Morrisroe on Ripon Jet Ski Club's lake, at the city's racecourse, on June 7.

Coroner Geoff Fell, who recorded a verdict of accidental death, heard how Mr Cave had been struck in a blunt-force impact normally associated with road crash victims.

Mr Morrisroe said they had been on the water five or six minutes when the incident happened.

Mr Morrisroe told the inquest in Harrogate that he stopped at the end of the lake and did a couple of manoeuvres, and then saw Mr Cave coming towards him at a 45-degree angle.

He said: "I saw Simon coming towards me and I think he stopped. That is why there was so much spray and I misjudged what he had done.

"I thought he had come and gone. I think he was down in the water and I hit him.

"I do not think Simon knew I was coming at him until a fraction of a second before the impact. I think he thought I was doing one thing and I was doing the other."

Asked by Mr Fell if there had been a communication problem, Mr Morrisroe said: "We used to ride very hard but we did not do anything stupid, especially not at speed.

"I think he probably misjudged the speed I was doing but I do not think that was more than 20 to 25mph. I have no doubt he was trying to spray me and I am pretty certain that my jet-ski hit Simon."

Pathologist Dr Carl Gray said Mr Cave died from internal injuries.