Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Bradley Hooper

Ref: 2015-0285 Date: 20 Jul 2015 Coroner: Grahame Short Area: Hampshire (Central) Responses identified: 1 / 2 View PDF

An inexperienced marshall, distracted by a mobile phone and improperly positioned, failed to observe a fatal collision. Club rules for marshall allocation were not followed, and the MCF Code of Practice lacks smartphone use guidance.

Date 20 Jul 2015

56-day deadline 15 Sep 2015

Responses identified 1 of 2

Other related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary

View full coroner's concerns

_ The evidence showed that the marshall at Point 11 had earlier been his mobile phone to take photographs of passing riders and at the time of the incident was facing in the opposite direction to the direction of travel of the riders, so that he was unaware of Bradley Hooper coming off his machine and did not show yellow flag until after the fatal collision. The MCF Code of Practice makes no reference to appropriate warnings which should be given to marshalls at briefings about the use of smartphones whilst practices or races are under way: The marshall at Point 11 was aged 16 at the time of the incident and had only marshalled on one previous occasion: Although he claimed to have made this known to the Chief Marshall no action was taken to allocate him to a low risk position, notwithstanding the current club marshalling rules of Portsmouth Motocross_Club_which states_that those aged 16-18 should be s0 allocated and riding using consider that Portsmouth Motocross Club should ensure that marshalls are allocated to positions based on the experience of each individual and that it should review its rules light of the MCF Code of Practice (once that is updated) and its affiliation to MCF_

Responses

1 respondent

Portsmouth Motocross Club Other

7 Sep 2015 PDF

Action Taken

Updated Rules of Marshalling have been implemented, with briefings at every race meeting. Experienced marshals are placed on "high-risk" points, and less experienced marshals on "low-risk" points; marshals will be observed to ensure they are acting correctly. (AI summary)

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Dear Down May day they they they

Less experienced Marshals (with no or limited Marshalling history) are placed on "low-risk" Marshal Points_ ALL Marshals are instructed what each marshalling flag is to be used for: Static Yellow fallen rider Yellow Flag Waved Vigorously fallen rider in danger, suspected White with Red or Green Cross rider requiring urgent medical attention ALL Marshals are informed that they are not to use mobile telephones on the Marshal Point when motorbikes are on the course circuit: ALL Marshals are informed that they are to look the opposite way of the oncoming motorbikes (ie. with the bikes travelling from behind their Marshal Point)_ Additional "floating' Marshals will be positioned at various locations on the circuit to ensure those Marshals placed on Marshal points, are in the correct manner Portsmouth Motocross Club believes these new measures can prevent any further serious injury or death in the future:

Report sections

Circumstances of the death

At about 10.28 on 11 May 2014 Bradley Hooper was a Honda motorbike in a club practice session at the motocross circuit at Down Farm Headbourne Worthy near Winchester. After mounting a flat topped jump near marshalling point 11, he came off his machine as the bike landed and was in the process of picking it up when he was struck from above by a Yamaha motorbike being ridden by another rider who had just gone over the same jump, but had no warning of his presence_

Action should be taken

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

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Report details

Reference: 2015-0285
Date of report: 20 July 2015
Coroner: Grahame Short
Coroner area: Hampshire (Central)

Responses identified

Responses identified 1 of 2

1 response not yet linked

Organisations named in PFD reports are normally expected to respond within 56 days. Deadline: 15 Sep 2015.

Sent to

M C Federation

Portsmouth Motocross Club

Source links

Judiciary.uk page → Report PDF →

Data: judiciary.uk under OGL.