Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2017

Liam Hall

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2017-0242, written 27 Jul 2017. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report27 Jul 2017
Reference2017-0242
DeceasedLiam Hall
CoronerKaren Dilks
Coroner areaNewcastle Upon Tyne
CategoryOther related deaths · Child Death (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.

Karen Dilks
Senior Coroner for the City of Newcastle Upon Tyne

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: Sunderland City Council
Chief Executive Chief Executive Office Civic Centre Burdon Road Sunderland SR2 7DN

CORONER

| am Karen Dilks, Senior Coroner for the City of Newcastle Upon Tyne

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 the 2 September 2016 | commenced an investigation in to the death of Liam Hall, aged 17
years.

The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on the 13 July 2017.

The conclusion of the inquest was accidental death.

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

On 30 August 2016 Liam Hall together with three friends, travelled to Roker Beach (Harbour
Area).

All four entered the sea in an inflatable dinghy. They encountered difficulties whilst in the water
including water ingress into the dinghy. Liam who had very limited swimming ability chose to
leave the dinghy entering the water leading to his death by drowning.

A police officer and Liam’s mother gave evidence at the inquest that in the harbour area there
was no Warning signage and also lifeguard supervision.

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. —

[BRIEF SUMMARY OF MATTERS OF CONCERN]

(1) No appropriate signage warning of the risks of entering the water and of the increased
risks associated with the use of inflatable devices in the Roker Harbour area.
(2) No tifeguard supervision in that area.

Lord Mayor’s Gallery, Civie Centre, Barras Bridge, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NEI 8QA
Tel 0191 2777280 | Fax 0191 2612952

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you Sunderland City
Council 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
18 September 2017. |, 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:

e
e Sunderland Safeguarding Board

| have also sent it to:
° Assistant Head of People’s Services Directorate, Sunderland City Council.
° Area Lifesaving Manager of RNLI

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.

Dated 27 July 2017

Signature.
Senior Coroner for the City of Newcastle Upon Tyne

Lord Mayor’s Gallery, Civic Centre, Barras Bridge, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 8QA
Tel 0191 2777280 | Fax 0191 2612952

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