Donald Campbell in Bluebird just before the water speed record attempt in which he was killed January 4th 1967 Donald Campbell was killed in a split second before breaking his own water speed record in his jet-powered boat, the Bluebird K7. He was travelling at more than 300mph (483 km/h) on Coniston Water when the boat was catapulted 50ft (15m) into the air after its nose lifted.