Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2021

Mohammad Farhan

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2021-0323, written 29 Sep 2021. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report29 Sep 2021
Reference2021-0323
DeceasedMohammad Farhan
CoronerMartin Fleming
Coroner areaWest Yorkshire Western
CategoryChild Death (from 2015) · Other related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published1

The report

Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

IN THE WEST YORKSHIRE (WESTERN) CORONER’S COURT 
IN THE MATTER OF: 

__________________________________________________________ 

The Inquest Touching the Death of Mohammad Abu FARHAN 
A Regulation Report – Action to Prevent Future Deaths 
__________________________________________________________ 

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT DEATHS 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 

1  Harden & Bingley Park Ltd 
2 
3 

  …………………………………… 

) …………………………………… 

1  CORONER 

I am Martin Fleming HM Senior Coroner for West Yorkshire West 

2  CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS 

I 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. 

3 

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST 

On 27/4/21, I opened an inquest into the death of Mohammad Abu Farhan, who at the date of his 
death was 14 years old.  The inquest was resumed and concluded on 21/9/21 
I found the cause of death to be: -

I a Drowning (submersion in water) 
I b 
I c 

I concluded with Accident 
4  CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 
On 30/03/21 Mohammad Abu Farhan drowned whilst swimming in the water's below Goit Stock 
Waterfall,  Hallas Lane, Cullingworth, Bradford. 

5  CORONER’S CONCERNS 

The MATTERS OF CONCERNS are as follows: 
At the inquest I noted from exhibited photographs that the signs prohibiting swimming in the waters 
under the water fall are obscured by vegetation and appear to be of some age such that I would 
ask you to consider reviewing the signs in order to make the dangers of swimming more explicit 
and noticeable. 

6  ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you (and/or your 
organisation) have the power to take such action. 

7  YOUR RESPONSE 

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, 
namely by 24 November 2021.  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 

I have sent a copy of my report to: -

 – sister of the deceased 

DC 

 – police officer in the case 

Local Safeguarding Board 

Chief Coroner 
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 
who may find it useful or of interest. 

I 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. 

9 

M D FLEMING 
HM Senior Coroner for 
West Yorkshire Western Coroner Area 
Dated: 29 September 2021

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 Harden Bingley Park Ltd (PDF)
Dear Sirs, 
We are the owners and directors of Harden & Bingley Park Limited. 
Goit Stock waterfall where the tragic incident occurred, is on our land. 
We and our residents were devastated to hear about the death of Mohammed Abu Farhan and once 
again our condolences go out to his family and friends. 
We would like to place on record our upset at the way we have been criticised by the report and the 
media and in particular the BBC. 
We were not approached by the Coroner prior to the report being published and we do not even 
know whether there was actually a site visit. If there was a site visit, by them why we were not 
involved ? 
We dispute certain issues raised in the report. 
For example, we dispute the fact that signage was obscured by vegetation. This can be proven by the 
BBC TV report on 31st March when the camera actually zoomed in on the signs and they were 
clearly visible. We mentioned this when we were asked by the BBC for our comments. They issued a 
report on their local website and quite disgracefully chose not to include this important point.  
The signs were placed on that rock face over looking Goit Stock waterfall so that they could not be 
vandalised. 
Vandalised signs have been a major issue on the park for many years. 
We have had to cope with an unprecedented number of visitors to the waterfall since the start of 
the pandemic. Unfortunately this has increased the amount of anti-social behaviour including drug 
dealing, used needles being left in the woods, fires being lit, barbecues, all manner of unpleasant 
waste and litter being dumped. It would appear that word has spread on social media that we are a 
"leisure park", with shops, toilets etc. As a consequence we have visitors not just from the 
immediate area but from all over Yorkshire and beyond. We are not this type of park. The woods, 
beck and waterfall are privately owned with public footpaths. There are no facilities.  
Our residents our mainly elderly and vulnerable people and they have felt threatened by all the anti-
social behaviour. 
Our local Councillors, police and Community Officers are aware of the situation but, like ourselves, 
feel completely overwhelmed by the situation. We are powerless to do anything and the police’s 
resources are too often  overstretched to deal with all the anti-social behaviour. 
However, we will comply with  the Coroner’s recommendations and erect some more signs around 
the area of Goit Stock waterfall. We will forward photos of the proposed signs and where we intend 
to put them (see attachments). 
Please look at our proposals and let us know if they are acceptable. We can then get the signs made 
and erected in the appropriate places. We must reiterate that the signs will be vulnerable to 
vandalism and consequently the relevant authorities need to consider other actions to prevent any 
further tragic accidents. 
Regards, 

Directors of Harden & Bingley Park Limited. 

,

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