Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Jordan Roberts

Ref: 2015-0042 Date: 6 Feb 2015 Coroner: Andrew Tweddle Area: County Durham & Darlington Responses identified: 1 / 2 View PDF

Inadequate and poorly located warning signs failed to highlight the dangers of a particularly deep pool with strong currents in the River Wear, leaving river path users unaware.

Date 6 Feb 2015

56-day deadline 3 Apr 2015 est.

Responses identified 1 of 2

Other related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary

Inadequate and poorly located warning signs failed to highlight the dangers of a particularly deep pool with strong currents in the River Wear, leaving river path users unaware.

View full coroner's concerns

In the City. They day they they and They circumstances it is my statutory to report to you: (1) The depth of the water in the River Wear which the three young men waded through is not particularly deep or particularly hazardous except where there is this particularly deep pool where the dangers are also compounded by strong currents. There is one warning sign on the Finchale Abbey side of the river but people walking down the well established river path on the County Council river bank side would be unaware of this sign and the three small square warning signs that are in place seem inadequate and not fit for purpose particularly bearing in mind that the water bailiff himself was unaware of their existence. Consideration therefore should be given to the question of the erection of appropriate warning signs on both sides of the River Wear in this area particularly highlighting known dangers of this particularly deep expanse of water:

Responses

1 respondent

Durham County Council Local Authority / Fire Service

17 Mar 2015 PDF

Action Taken

Larger, improved hazard warning signs have been erected at 3 key locations along the northern river bank and additional work will be undertaken to improve sections of fencing along the northern side of the river bank. Information will also be provided on the Durham County Council Cocken Wood picnic area webpages regarding the hazards associated with the river. (AI summary)

View full response

Dear Andrew Re: Jordan Lee Roberts, deceased refer to your letter dated 6 February 2015 regarding the waming signage on both sides of the River Wear at Finchale Abbey: Following the tragic death of Jordan Lee Roberts, a safety assessment of the northem section of the river bank has been undertaken by Durham County Councll, The agsessment process has also Involved a Royal Soclety for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) consuitant. ROSPA have also been engaged by the Durham City Safety Group to undertake an independent review of river safety In Durham Centre. As part of this process, ROSPA are also reviewing various other locations across the County including Finchale Abbey: The safety assessment has resulted in actions being taken to replace the existing waming signs which were identified in the matters of concem. Larger; improved hazard wamlng signs have been erected at 3 key locations alng the northem river bank; This wil wam river path users that there are river related hazards, specifically strong currents and deep water; The signs being erected are in accordance with The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations and ROSPA national water safety slgnage specitication for public areas_ All signs wlll be subject to ongoing Inspection and monitoring regimes and replacements will be erected on an ongoing basis Where required, Furthermore, additional work will also be undertaken to Improve sections of fencing along the northem side of river bank In the of the footbridge. Information will also be provided on the Durham County Council Cocken Wood picnic area webpages regarding the hazards associated with the river; particularly for those vislting this attraction that may be unaware: Continuedi _ Neighbourhood Services Durham County Council, County Hall; Durham DHI &UQ Main Telephone (03000) 260 OO00 Minkcom (0191) 383 3802 wwwdurham-gov,uk lzoit Councilof the Year Our Clty " vicinlty =

Page 2 ot 2 In order to raise as much awareness as possible to the dangers of the river, the actions being taken by the Council on the Northem side of the river bank have also been communicated to the adjacent landowned at a site meeting on 27 February
2015. Should you require any additional inforation do not hesilate to contact me.

Report sections

Investigation and inquest

On 10lh September 2014 | commenced an investigation into the death of JORDAN LEE ROBERTS, aged 17 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 3" February 2015. The conclusion of the inquest was 'Accidental Death"

Circumstances of the death

The deceased, his brother and a close family friend had been playing in the River Wear near Finchale Abbey on Monday the 8ih of September 2014. had spent much of the playing in the river without incident: The river level was quite low, it was good weather and most of the time had been walking in the river without difficulty in water that was not very deep. On the afternoon one of the three noticed he was in deeper water, about chest height, and began swimming and when he turned round he saw the two brothers in the river bobbing up and down in and under the water and at first thought were playing: When neither re-appeared above the surface he realised there was something amiss, jumped back into the river and swam and was able to recover one of the brothers to the river bank and following CPR this person revived. The rescuer went back into the water but was unable t0 find and therefore unable to retrieve the other brother who was subsequently found in the river in over 2 meters of water by emergency services the next day: The rescuer had not seen any warning signs along the bank side_ The local water bailiff was able to confirm that there was one warning sign affixed quite high up to a tree on the Finchale Abbey bank side of the river near to a picnic area warning of deep dangerous water. The water bailiff did not believe that there were any warning signs on the other bank side; owned by Durham County Council Evidence was given that there are in fact three small signs on the Durham County Council bank side which the water bailiff despite knowing the area well did not know they existed. are approximately 4 inches square bearing words "Danger do not enter water" giving an emergency number and a County Council information telephone number. The water bailiff confirmed that he knew of and he believed others knew of a much deeper area of water at the place where this incident took place where the water depth falls away sharply from being a few feet in depth to a depth of 4 meters or more: The drop is sudden. The area is known as the bombhole. The rescuer confirmed that even though he had played in the river in that area since childhood he was unaware of this particular deep area. There are no warning signs near to the site of the incident: There are no warning signs particularly highlighting the risk and dangers posed by deep water in the area_

Action should be taken

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and believe you have the power to take such action:

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Report details

Reference: 2015-0042
Date of report: 6 February 2015
Coroner: Andrew Tweddle
Coroner area: County Durham & Darlington

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: 3 Apr 2015 (estimated).

Sent to

Durham County Council

Finchale Abbey Farm

Source links

Judiciary.uk page → Report PDF →

Data: judiciary.uk under OGL.