BEX,
LAF may well be thinking of another accident. The Boscombe course often referred to a different accident - a 152 (150?) being returned to the mainland after engine maintenance at one of the IoW fields. As (bad) luck would have it, said donk gave up the ghost over the solent and the a/c wasn't high enough to glide to land (why not was never explained). Pilot had no imersion suit or life jacket, and managed to remain afloat due to a carrier bag found behind the seats. It was early in they year (March, I think) and the water was v. cold - he did very nearly drown, and hypothermic effects were a major contributor - this even though he was close enough to land for a photo to be taken of the tail of the aircraft post ditching.
Anyway, enough of that - simply to say that I believe two different incidents are being discussed.
LAF - no chance I might be your "stunt double", is there?
(If you need to ask, I'm not!
)