The incident happened during the June 14 event when a four-person boat inadvertently struck a young cygnet on the Wear during a race. The crew was facing backwards during the event, which is said to have left onlookers on the riverbank distressed and shocked.
A rescue craft attempted to retrieve the stricken swan from the waters, but the bird sadly died.
“Durham Regatta regrets and apologises for an unfortunate accident involving a cygnet,” organisers of the event said.
“Immediately following the accident, we changed our arrangements and submitted reports to Defra (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) and the Police.
“There were no further incidents.
“The Regatta will donate to a relevant wildlife charity.”
“The crew involved was rowing backwards and would not have seen the swans.
“Some of the people sitting nearby were really distressed.
“It was obviously quite upsetting.”
It took place as crowds were starting to build up on the riverbanks on the opening day of the 192nd Regatta, which attracted hundreds of crews and thousands of spectators to the Wear in Durham.
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Another observer said the group of swans and cygnets had previously been narrowly missed by an eight crew and questioned whether more could have been done to try to move them from the course of the boats during the races.
“I think the umpires or race organisers who were stationed along the course and had seen the swans interfering with the previous race should have acted sooner to stop racing and relocate the swans.
“I do not think it was acceptable to stop it only after a swan had been killed.”
