Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2013

Joseph Drew Whiteside

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2013-0377, written 16 Dec 2013. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report16 Dec 2013
Reference2013-0377
DeceasedJoseph Drew Whiteside
CoronerAndrew Haigh
Coroner areaStaffordshire (South)
CategoryAlcohol, drug and medication related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published1

The report

Text recovered by OCR from a scanned PDF. OCR is imperfect: check anything you rely on against the source PDF. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS
THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:

East Staffordshire Borough Council

CORONER

| am Mr Andrew Haigh Senior Coroner for the Coroner area of Staffordshire South.

CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS

| make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and
regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013.

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On the 10 May 2013 | commenced an investigation into the death of Joseph Drew Whiteside aged
20. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on the 11 December 2013. The
conclusion of the inquest was accidental death.

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

Joseph Whiteside's body was found in the River Trent in Burton on 10th May 2013. It is likely that
late on the 2nd May 2013 in an intoxicated state he had fallen into the river, had been unable to
extricate himself and had drowned.

mI
CORONER’S CONCERNS

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my
opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is
my statutory duty to report to you.

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows:—

Since | have been a Coroner in this jurisdiction | have held Inquests into the deaths of a number of
young men who in an intoxicated state have fallen into the River Trent at Burton and drowned. |
fully understand that at Burton the river does split and there are numerous access points to the
water. | am told that in one or two places there are life buoys and | now wonder that if in the main
access points there should be further safety measures such as fencing and/or warning signs. |
should be grateful if you could carry out a review to see if any further such action should be taken.

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you and your
organisation have the power to take such action.

YOUR RESPONSE

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, namely by
10 February 2014. I, the Coroner, may extend the period.

Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the
timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed.

COPIES and PUBLICATION

| have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested Persons: | |

—Joseph’s mother and iE Joseph's father. | have also sent it to
Mr Derek Winter — Coroner for Sunderland, Dr Robert Hunter — Coroner for Derbyshire who may
find it useful or of interest.

| am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response.

The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary form. He may
send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful or of interest. You may
make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your response, about the release or the
publication of your response by the Chief Coroner.

16 December 2013

Andrew A Haigh
HM Senior Coroner Staffordshire (South)

Responses

1 response published against this report on judiciary.uk. A response is a body's written reply to the coroner's concerns; publication is at the discretion of the Chief Coroner's office, so an absent response does not mean nobody replied.

Response from East Staffordshire Borough Council1 (PDF)
PD) East

Staffordshire

Borough Council

Andy O’Brien, BA (Hons)
Chief Executive

46" January 2014 Direct Line:

Direct Fax:
Mr Andrew A Haigh Reply to:
Her Majesty's Coroner Email

Coroner's Office

No 1 Staffordshire Place
Stafford

$T16 2LP

Dear Mr Haigh
Re: Joseph Drew Whiteside (Deceased)

Thank you for advising me of your concerns regarding access to the River Trent at Burton
upon Trent, | am able to inform you the Council appointed the Royal Society for the
Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) to conduct inland water safety reviews, across Burton-
upon-Trent and Uttoxeter. The review was undertaken across five days in October and
November 2013.

The overall aim of the review was to identify any areas where physical conitrols need to be
changed to meet current safety expectations and to identify any overall management
arrangements that need to be implemented to maintain an acceptable level of public
safety across the Councils’ portfolio.

Overall it was found that the average risk rating was in the “lower risk level”, eight
locations were rated within the “increased risk” category. ROSPA have made
recommendations to reduce the risk to an acceptable level and the Council will be acting
upon these recommendations as soon as is practicable.

| hope you are reassured the Council and officers are always reviewing safety of inland
waterways and act to prevent members of the public and our employees accidentally
entering the water, should you have any concerns over specific areas of the river you
consider to be a hazard to the public we would be happy to discuss these further.

Yours sincerely

f a me

Andy O’Brien
Chief Executive

Andy O’Brien, BA (Hons) Chief Executive

Tem Awards 2013 THEN J
" , OL Last Stalfardshtre Borough Counc, 2043

rm PO Box 6045, Burton pon trent DET4 GIG mene Ramses FAK
Telephone. 01783 bUBG00 Fax: 01283 508388 COMMENDED Gvesshent
www Castsldflsbe gov uk

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