Speedboat accident in Padstow

[LittleAbruzzenBear]

I don't know if the mother was a MNer, but I am hoping she pulls through with her other DCs and so sorry to hear she lost her husband and daughter, Emily. I know words are useless, but I am thinking of them. It's all so sad and awful.

[teddyandgypsy]

This is so interesting. Apologies, by the way, for the fact that I appear to have been replying to myself (new to this forum), but I haven't had any name changes so I don't know what that's about. I post under one name only.

What intrigues me is the condemnatory nature of so many posters who wish to shut down debate about safety on the water. Why would that be? And now we've got this stuff about the hypothetical insurance policy. I think it may have been me who first mentioned insurance and now it seems to have taken on a life of its own.

I like facts and logic and my point therefore was that the investigation would necessarily have to cover all angles, and not just from a health and safety perspective. Two people have died and it is the law of the land that there is an inquest which will establish how they met their deaths. Equally, and perfectly properly, insurance assessors will also conduct a full and thorough investigation and how this can be construed as a bad taste remark is beyond me. The boat would have been insured as would the life of Mr Milligan - indeed it would be strange if it were not. So, guys, what can possibly be the problem with that, what possesses any poster to try and make something untoward about the fact that a person would carry insurance?

The facts will out and they will be what they are, however much people may wish they were otherwise. This was a truly terrible tragedy involving hideous human suffering, both now and for the future. It is right and proper and a fitting memorial that the authorities establish the cause so that others may not have to suffer similarly.

[scaevola]

I think the point about lack of life jackets is like lack of seat belts, and dangerous driving being dangerous driving, whether on land or water, is well made. And additionally reprehensible in crowded areas, especially those where children congregate.

[NorthernLurker]

Where does the no life jackets come from? Are life jackets protection against a propeller now then too?
The obsession some posters have with legal process is truly bizarre.

[MrsSalvoMontalbano]

The lifejackets are an essential safety matter. Luckily in this incident there were heroic people around who were prepared to put themselves into real danger to rescue the children in the water. If there had not been, or if they had had had to wait for the emergency services to be called and arrive,then how long would the children have survived even if they did not have propeller injuries? If the children were not wearing life jacket or buoyancy aids, this is just as negligent as the lack of the kill-cord, both the adults in the boat had the responsibility of ensuring they were worn, and it needs to be publicised to avoid future incidents of this type.

[NorthernLurker]

Yes thanks I do understand what a lifejacket is for. My question is how do you know they weren't being worn? Why are you even speculating about that?

[Lazyjaney]

^^

It must surely have occurred to even you that if the kill cord wasn't been use, and for the event to unfold as it did, there would have also been other lapses.

[Kiriwawa]

Petition to make using kill cords mandatory (at present it's 'good practice' but not obligatory)

[MrsSalvoMontalbano]

Kirwawa - thanks, signed

[teddyandgypsy]

We simply do not know if the family were wearing life jackets. However, I can understand the speculation because the police have stated that six lifebelts have been found but not that they were wearing them.

I see that the inquest was adjourned for further evidence which sounds sensible. However, one can pick up just how dreadful were the injuries from what was said. Why of why did this have to happen? Is it really so onerous to attach a simple safety cord? Should highly powered boats be driven at high speed with four children, apparently unsecured?

Let us hope that the laws will be changed for the future protection of others, not least bathers and canoeists enjoying more peaceful forms of relaxation.

[CashmereHoodlum]

I thought inquests were always opened and adjourned

[janey1234]

You really, really are teddy.
Please just stop it, leave it alone.

[CatherineofMumbles]

I think inquests usually are opened, so there can be a funeral, and then adjourned so the full facts can be established. It may be that the poor child who died drowned because she was not wearing a life jacket - if so that will be presumably part of the findings, and hopefully published to avoid further similar tragedies in this and future summers.

[CatherineofMumbles]

Errr... not sure that this has the remotest connection with April Jones...??? Why try to connect

[NorthernLurker]

Because, Catherine, I've posted on two threads recently with exactly the same tone. Both concern parents who have lost a child. I saw another like this on netmums too - though that was pulled eventually. There is no connection except in the behaviour of the posters.

[NorthernLurker]

I coulcn't believe the one I saw Mrsdv. It was about that child who drowned in Egypt and a mum who had lost her child to a carbon monoxide tent incident came on and said that she'd read a similar slagging off of her and how awful it was - and people still kept on. Morons.

[specialsubject]

I don't see any connection between this and the April Jones case.
She was deliberately murdered by a man determined to find a victim.

the people who died in this ACCIDENT were not. When there are ACCIDENTS or illness, sometimes something done differently might have resulted in a different outcome. That's why there is an investigation.

Perhaps that investigation could reduce the number of future tragedies. As a powerboat user I will want to see the result of the investigation to see if there is anything I could do differently. (This is why marine accident investigations have to be read by those involved in similar activities)

none of this makes the event any less sad or horrific.

[CatherineofMumbles]

specialsubject I agree - there is no earthly reason to try to make any link with April Jones , or indeed to invoke other forums - obviously elsewhere on the net there will be forums where invidious this are said about all sorts of subjects - this place is not one of them.
I have seen nothing on this thread other than sympathy for the innocent victims, (including the brave men who risked their own lives to help) and a desire for lessons to be learned to avoid similar or worse incidents in the future. This is the beginning of summer, and numerous people will be out in powercraft, and need to be aware of the horrific consequences of not using the kill cords, and not insisting that lifejackets are worn. the people involved in that incident already know those, the point is top get the message across to those who don't.

[janey68]

Rational and sensitive posts, specialsubject and Catherineofmumbles.

I also don't see the need to bring up a murder victim on this thread. This is an entirely different circumstance.

Obviously the death of any child whether through illness, accident or crime is a tragedy, but it doesn't mean you can make a blanket comparison.

What has shocked so many people about this case is that a)it was easily avoidable and b) it potentially endangered the lives of many more people.

I also think if this was some yob driving around on a Friday night, having had a couple of drinks, not paying due care and attention and not driving with due regard for his own passengers or other road users, there would actually be far less sympathy shown than there has on here. Which does make me a bit at whether different rules apply when it's a well off middle class family involved

Ultimately, even though its not actually illegal to drive a power boat without using the kill cord, it is obviously a very risky thing to do and shows a disregard for other people. It's vitally important that this fact is highlighted: as others say, the power boats are out in force this time of year, as are bathers and sailors.

Telling it straight does not in any way detract from the awfulness for the family involved; it's terrible for them