ONE of the last of the crew who assisted Donald Campbell on his world speed record attempts in his craft Bluebird has died.

Paul Evans, who passed away on Tuesday in Darlington, was the radio operator on Campbell’s fateful bid to break the 300mph barrier on Lake Coniston, in Cumbria, on January 4, 1967.

He had a ringside seat for an extraordinary piece of history as Campbell pushed his machine to the limit – and beyond.

On the second run of the day, as Bluebird decelerated having reached 320mph, its nose lifted from the water.

Then the craft flipped, broke up and sank to the bottom of the lake.

Mr Evans, who was with the Royal Signals Corps at Catterick, in North Yorkshire, when he was seconded to the speed bid, recorded Campbell’s final words as the drama unfolded.

He kept the tape at his home in Neville Road, Darlington, and, at the time of the 30th anniversary in 1997, approached The Northern Echo. With the help of Darlington College of Technology, we were able to play the tape once more and hear Campbell’s last words for the first time in three decades.

Crackling across time, we heard Campbell say: “The water’s dark green and I can’t see a bloody thing...Hallo the bow is up...I’m going...I’m on my back...I’m gone.” Then there was a sharp intake of breath, and then there was nothing.

The night before, Mr Evans had been playing cards with Campbell in the Sun Hotel, in Coniston, when the 45-yearold had drawn the Ace of Spades, the bearer of bad luck, followed by the Queen of Spades, the bringer of death.

“He slammed them down on the table and walked out,” said Mr Evans. “As he went, he said to me: ‘Someone is in for the chop and I hope it is not going to be me’.”

He continued: “Donald Campbell was a role model for me and for a lot of people. He was from the era of swashbuckling heroes.”

Mr Evans, who was 69 and had been suffering from lung disease, has taken a keen interest in recent years in the project to restore Bluebird in North Shields, north Tyneside.

“There are not many of the original crew left now and I was desperately hoping that Paul would see the boat come back together,” said Novie Dzinora, from the Bluebird Project.

“We’re looking at 2012 for that, but sadly it was not to be.

“Paul was a real gentleman who always had time to talk to everyone about Campbell and his exploits and we shall all miss him greatly.”

Mr Evans leaves a widow, Doreen, a son, Mark, and two grandchildren. His funeral is at 10.30am on Thursday, in Holy Trinity Church, Darlington.