By Keiligh Baker For Mailonline

‘Daredevil’ billionaire philanthropist who was Formula 1 playboy James Hunt’s friend dies in Cayman Islands after being thrown overboard when his new speedboat hit a wave

Daredevil billionaire philanthropist Erik Henriksen died earlier this month

The 58-year-old was thrown from new speedboat in the Cayman Islands

The Norwegian father-of-two was taken to hospital where he later died

Mr Henriken built his own stately home in 366 acres in the Cotswolds

A daredevil billionaire philanthropist from the Cotswolds who loved extreme sports has died in the Cayman Islands after his high powered speedboat hit a wave.

Norwegian philanthropist Erik Henriksen, 58, had lived in Britain for more than a decade after building his own stately home in 366 acres in Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire.

He died on November 9 after being thrown from his 1,000hp, 34ft speedboat in the Cayman Islands, where he also owned property.

The Compass Cayman reports he was thrown from his boat along with another man around 6pm.

The newspaper reported the speedboat was later seen spinning out of control with no driver before coming to a stop in the mangroves.

Police said the men were in the water for ‘a prolonged period of time’ before the incident was reported and when officers arrived on the scene Mr Henriksen was unresponsive.

He was transferred to the Cayman Islands Hospital but was later pronounced dead.

The shipping and energy tycoon, who had two children, had recently put his British property on the market for £17million after splitting from his wife Anne.

Neighbours described Mr Henriksen as a ‘daredevil’ who loved extreme sports. He was known for throwing boozy parties and was friends with James Hunt, the late Formula 1 playboy.

The billionaire and his wife moved to the Cotswolds with their two children, Seb and Stephanie, and spent years building and renovating their home.

But locals said the enormous property, Alderley Farm, was virtually abandoned when the couple split three years ago and since then Mr Henriksen spent most of his time abroad.

Neighbour Sean Mills said: ‘He kept himself very much to himself. We did not know much about him. It’s very sad.’

Plumber Peter Ballinger, 43, said he knew Mr Henriksen for about ten years as his family rented land from his estate for grazing.

He said: ‘He was a nice chap – very genuine. He was an exciting chap that’s for sure. He travelled all over the world to do these extreme kind of things. It’s a shock what happened.’

One woman, who used to be invited to his house for drinks, said: ‘When he moved here I expected him to mix with the grandiose people of the area, but he didn’t.

‘Instead he was fascinated with farming. His wife left him about three years ago and it was just a bolt out of the blue. I was absolutely flabbergasted.

‘He hasn’t really been back since they divorced. He spent most of his time in the Cayman Islands I think.

‘I heard he was building a house in Canada too and had one in Monaco as well.’

She added: ‘Talking to a few people around here about his death, they have said they weren’t surprised. People thought something like this might happen.

‘People seem to be saying the same things I have read on the internet – that he had bought a high powered boat quite recently and that it hit a wave and they were both chucked out of the boat.’

Mr Henriksen had businesses listed on the Oslo stock exchange and chaired the board of Norwegian energy company Noreco.

He founded the Aqua Nirvana Foundation which provides clean and safe water in developing countries.

His classical-style Cotswold mansion boasts a leisure complex, stables, horse training area and farm buildings and also includes 83 acres of woodland with lakes and pasture.

The stunning seven-bed mansion sits in its own valley in Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire.

Estate agents Savills said it was not clear whether the property would remain on the market following Mr Henriksen’s death.

A police investigation into Mr Henriksen’s death continues.

IMAGES:

Norwegian philanthropist Erik Henriksen, 58, (pictured second from left) had lived in the UK for more than a decade after building his own stately home in 366 acres in Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire

Mr Henrikson’s classical-style Cotswold mansion boasts a leisure complex, stables, horse training area and farm buildings and also includes 83 acres of woodland with lakes and pasture

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