A LANDMARK moment in the reconstruction of a legendary jet-powered craft was reached in the unlikely setting of a North-East industrial unit yesterday.

Donald Campbell died in Bluebird attempting to break his own world water speed record in 1967.

Yesterday, surrounded by sections of the craft recovered from Lake Coniston, his daughter, Gina, climbed into the rebuilt framework to lock in the first of 40,000 rivets needed to secure the structure.

The event was an emotional one for Paul Evans, the 67-year-old Darlington man who, as an Army radio operator, recorded the final words of the fearless Campbell as Bluebird, travelling at more than 300mph, flew out of control and plunged to the lake bottom on January 4, 1967.

“I never thought I would live to see this day. This should put all the doubting Thomases back in their boxes,” said Mr Evans who, despite ill health, travelled to the Kiltech Engineering unit in North Shields, North Tyneside, for the ceremony.

It was a jubilant day all round for members of the Campbell family and the team of talented volunteers, who have worked tirelessly to rebuild the iconic jetengined craft, which, when completed in 2010, will comprise almost 90 per cent of the original Bluebird.

Popping the first rivet, Ms Campbell described the meticulously reconstructed framework as “Bluebird’s vital underwear”.

She said: “Today is a very important and special day.

No one can quantify how much effort and how many hours have been put in to reach this landmark.’’ She praised project leader Bill Smith, Kiltech’s owner, who, as an amateur diver, spent four years searching for and finally locating Bluebird and the remains of her father. She said: “What I was determined would not happen was for a wreck to go on display.”

Mr Smith said: “This project has taken over my life.”

Once completed, the restored Bluebird will take to the water one last time before going on display at the Ruskin Museum in The Lake District.

Asked who will take it out on its final moment of glory, the petite Ms Campbell said: “Well it won’t be me – my legs aren’t long enough to reach the controls.”

But she revealed the honour may go to world water speed record holder Ken Warby or Ted Walsh, commodore of Windermere Motor Boat Racing Club.