Inquest into speed hero

Gina Campbell, 51, was speaking after a 10-minute inquest into the death of her father, who met his end trying to break his own world water speed record in 1967. Daughter Gina said she still missed him "like mad".

Miss Campbell said: "There was always a little bit of doubt but now there's no doubt. It would have been awful if for instance in five years' time another body was brought out of the lake and it turned out to be my father."

All that is left now for Gina is to plan a burial for her 46-year-old father so the final chapter in a remarkable story can be written.

After the inquest at Barrow Town Hall Gina left for Coniston where she met the local stonemason and vicar to confirm final details for the funeral, to be held in the second week of September.

Gina said: "The burial will be planned for the second week in September. My father kept us waiting for 34 years so he can wait a little longer.

"Coniston is the only place for him to be. The people of Coniston have lived and cared for him for 34 years and it is only right he should stay there. The mystery of the lake now becomes reality.

"I want a really nice plot for him in the churchyard.

"He would be delighted to know he was to be buried in the village. I expect it to be a big funeral, it's not going to be a closed shop. Anybody who feels like they were touched by my father is welcome. He has a huge following.

"I came to term with my father's death a long time ago. I was 17, it was a difficult age. Another 34 years would have been much nicer with my father. I still miss him like mad.

"I don't want the funeral to be a sad, sombre day, on occasions there will be sad, sombre moments, but I want people to come and say 'what a hero'."

Furness coroner Ian Smith confirmed beyond all doubt that the remains found were that of Campbell.

Cumbria Police's scenes of crime officer Carl Langholm told the inquest that DNA sampling compared to Gina and Donald's sister Jean Wales, was approximately 1.9 million time more likely to be Donald Campbell than anyone else.

"The remains recovered are related to Gina Campbell," he said.

He said the remains were wrapped in "bluey green" overalls with a union jack flag on the breast pocket. "They have been preserved," he added.

A black leather belt, a glove, various pieces of cloth and a zip were also found.

Gina took to the witness box to confirm her father's full name, date of birth and place of birth.

Coroner Ian Smith said: "I am satisfied the remains are without doubt those of Donald Malcolm Campbell, CBE, born on March 21, 1921 at Kingston in Surrey. The DNA report has confirmed what everyone thought was the case."

After giving permission for the remains to be released for burial he said to Gina: "I am sure this is a further step in what you have to come to terms with. I am sure it's better to know it is your father than probably knowing it's your father."

Gina repied: "It couldn't have been put better."

On January 4, 1967, speed king Donald Campbell pushed forward the throttles of his boat Bluebird and sped along Coniston Water in search of the world water speed record.

What happened next has remained in the memory of everyone present and the millions who have since witnessed the grainy black and white television pictures.

The sleek, futuristic craft travelling at 300mph began to lift its nose in the air and within seconds it was airborne, turning a complete somersault before crashing into the depths of the Lakeland lake.

After the accident, debris from the wrecked boat was scattered over the lake's surface, but the man who lived for speed, strapped inside the tiny cockpit, went down with his boat. His last words were via radio - "She's going, she's going".

Campbell's life jacket, crash helmet, oxygen mask and even his shoes were found. His lucky teddy bear, Mr Whoppit, floated to the surface of the six-mile lake.

Before the ill-fated record attempt Campbell was asked about dicing with death and replied: "By the same token you can walk out of your front door and be killed by a bus."

Campbell's daughter Gina, 51, hopes a senior member of the Royal Family will be present at his funeral.

She said an invitation would be sent and it was possible that Prince Charles or Prince Philip would attend.

Prince Philip had taken a keen interest in her late father's life and Miss Campbell said she would be very grateful if one of the two princes could be present.

She is hoping her father will be buried near to his old friend Connie Robinson.

The evenutal inquest will seek to establish what went wrong at 8.55am on January 4, 1967, as the powerboat flipped over. Key witnesses will be interviewed.

Rumours said mechanical failure was to blame for his death, while it has been stated wave swell from Mr Campbell's previous attempt at the record caused the crash.

The remains were found on May 28 this year, more than two months after the Bluebird had been salvaged from the lake bed.

A post mortem was held at Furness General Hospital in Barrow in an attempt to identify the remains but DNA samples compared with Gina were needed to confirm the discovery.

His remains were thought to have been too badly damaged ever to be found. But the diving team which raised the Bluebird believed they had spotted a skeleton.

The remains were brought out of the water in a coffin draped with a Union Jack flag at 1.50pm.

Campbell's family allowed the diving team, which worked in conjunction with the BBC, to raise Bluebird on the condition that his body was found.

His family said the stipulation that the divers should recover Campbell's body was a "crucial factor" in permission for the expedition being granted.

Plans are now being made to bury Campbell and many hope it will be in Coniston, a place he adored.

The Reverend of St Andrew's Church in Coniston Mark East said: "John Ruskin is buried in Coniston and I'm not sure whether Donald Campbell is the same sort of character but he certainly is in fame terms so I suppose there is no reason why he shouldn't be buried here.

"He has a strong connection with Coniston and there wouldn't be any problems with him being laid to rest here.

"He gave a lot of his time to Coniston and he will be remembered for everything he did on the lake.

"There are plans that Bluebird will be given to the village so his remains should be nearby too.

"His bones may have been left but he himself has gone on to somewhere better. Whatever happens it no doubt will be important for his family to be able to lay the bones to rest. This could be the final chapter in a book that after many years will at last be closed."

Diver Bill Smith, who led the operation to retrieve Donald Campbell and Bluebird, said: "There has to be a fitting tribute."

Campbell enjoyed his finest hour in 1964, capturing both the land and water speed records, first travelling at 403.1mph in his gas-turbine car in Australia. On the last day of 1964 he broke the water speed record reaching 276.33mph - the record he was trying to break on Coniston Water three years later.

Plans are now in the pipeline to display Bluebird in the village of Coniston.

Updated : 15:30, Friday 10th Aug.