Olympian's horrific collision

Olympic gold medallist Bruce Kendall has for the first time recalled the horrific boating accident that nearly killed a close friend and left him with a million dollar court case.

Kendall was coaching top American boardsailor Kimberley Birkenfeld in waters off Greece four years ago when the rigid inflatable boat he was driving collided with her.

Kendall jumped into the water, dragged Birkenfeld aboard and resuscitated her.

"I think it's been the worst thing that's ever happened," he told the Herald on Sunday last week.

"Just the act of being involved in an accident with somebody that you know, and you have to jump into the water, and they're face down unconscious in the water, not breathing, and you have to swim to the boat with them, get them into the boat, breathe for them and not lose my head - make sure I did everything properly, and kept her alive, and basically got her going again.

If I hadn't started her breathing, she would have died."

Kendall said he ended up in a Greek hospital, covered in his friend's blood.

"The whole incident was extremely traumatic."

The crash left Birkenfeld with life threatening injuries, and she began a protracted legal battle seeking millions in damages.

Kendall, the 1988 Olympic gold medallist and brother of champion boardsailor Barbara, has continued to coach and is now, at the age of 42, planning a new Olympic campaign sailing a twin-hulled Tornado.