Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2016

Charles Pitcher

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2016-0336, written 19 Sep 2016. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report19 Sep 2016
Reference2016-0336
DeceasedCharles Pitcher
CoronerIan Arrow
Coroner areaPlymouth, Torbay and South Devon
CategorySuicide (from 2015)
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

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.

IAN MICHAEL ARROW
Senior Coroner for Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: The Highways Department, Cornwall Council, County

Hall, Treyew Road, Truro, Cornwall TR1 3AY

The Highways Department, Devon County Council, Topsham Road, Exeter, Devon EX2 4
D

Tamar Bridge & Torpoint Ferry joint Committee, Tamar Bridge Office, Pemros Road, St.
Budeaux, Plymouth PL5 1LP

CORONER

Tam IAN MICHAEL ARROW, Senior Coroner for Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon

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.

http://www. legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/25/schedule/5/paragraph/7

http://www. legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1629/part/7/made

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On 08/07/2016 | commenced an investigation into the death of Charles Edward Pitcher, 18. The
investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 19 September 2016. The conclusion of the
inquest was INTENTIONALLY TOOK HIS OWN LIFE On 5 July 2016 the deceased jumped over
the walking barrier of the Tamar Bridge and landed in Wolseley Road, Plymouth. He suffered
fatal injuries. Multiple Traumatic Injuries consistent with a fall from height

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH
On 5 July 2016, the deceased jumped over the walkway barrier of the Tamar Bridge and landed
in Wolseley Road, Plymouth. He suffered fatal injuries. | found the deceased intentionally took
his own life...

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. —

At the Inquest | received information from Detective Constablel who informed me there
have been 11 persons who had jumped from the bridge in the last 10 years. He formed the view
that it was all too easy to jump the barrier. He also made the observation there was a risk to
persons(n Wolseley Road arising from people crossing the walkway barrier at that point. He
made the observation that on other significant bridges and he gave as an example the Humber
Bridge, the operators have established precautions and set up appropriate notices.

| would ask you please to review the procedures and measures you have in place to reduce the
likelihood of a suicide being completed from the Tamar Bridge.

1 Derriford Park, Derriford Business Park, Plymouth, PL6 5QZ
Tel 01752 204636 | Fax

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you The Highways
Departments of both Cornwall and Devon together with the Tamar Bridge Joint Committee,
have the power to take such action and review the operation of the Tamar Bridge so as to
minimise the risk of suicides being completed from the Bridge.

YOUR RESPONSE

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, namely by
15 November 2016. 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.

8 COPIES and PUBLICATION

| have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested Persons - the
family of the deceased.

| 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 ree medions}e me, the coroner, at the time of your response, about the
release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner.

Dated 19 September 4

Signature f
Senior Coroner for Plyfouth, Torbay and South Devon

1 Derriford Park, Derriford Business Park, Plymouth, PL6 5QZ
Tel 01752 204636 | Fax

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