Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Rebecca Curtis-Small

Ref: 2014-0483 Date: 4 Nov 2014 Coroner: John Tomalin Area: Exeter & Greater Devon Responses identified: 3 / 4 View PDF

Beach signage is insufficient, lacking prominent display and specific warnings about variable riptide hazards, increasing public risk.

Date 4 Nov 2014

56-day deadline 30 Dec 2014

Responses identified 3 of 4

Other related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary

Beach signage is insufficient, lacking prominent display and specific warnings about variable riptide hazards, increasing public risk.

View full coroner's concerns

_ That the appropriate signage is displayed in a way that can easily be seen on each of the entrances to the beach Whether the sign could refer to any specific riptide hazards known of at the beach in order to warn members of the public using the beach at different times of the year and different states of the tide, that rip tides would be more hazardous.

Responses

3 respondents

North Devon District Council Local Authority / Fire Service

13 Nov 2014 PDF

Action Planned

North Devon District Council will undertake an audit of signs at the beaches under their control and ownership. They also intend to bring the issue to the attention of their partner organisations. (AI summary)

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Dear Mr Tomalin, Rebecca Jodie CURTIS-SMALL Deceased DOD 31.12.2013 Inquest: gth October 2014 at County Hall, Topsham Road; Exeter. Regulation 28 Report refer to your letter of 4 November 2014. can confirm that the District Council has no ownership interest at Croyde Beach other than the public toilets located at Moor Lane_ Signs are provided by the landowner and although the RNLI's standard format is used extensively across the country by many private landowners and councils including North Devon Council on its own beaches, it is not a legal requirement; simply in our view best practice_ The District Council has some limited responsibility for signing at designated bathing beaches in accordance with the EU Bathing Water Regulations but this is very prescriptive, focusing on water quality and not safety. Even in this case, the Council as Local Authority has no enforcement powers against private landowners who are not in agreement to allow the bathing water quality sign to be erected, only the Secretary of State has such power_ We are therefore unable to take any action in respect of Croyde Beach, but in light of the issues you have raised we will be undertaking an audit of signs at the beaches which are under our control and ownership and we also intend to bring this issue to the attention of our partner organisations _

Parkdean

18 Dec 2014 PDF

Noted

Parkdean states that the signage at Croyde Beach has been designed and erected in agreement with the RNLI and they consider the signage in place is appropriate and sufficient. However, the company is willing to discuss the matter further with the RNLI and act upon any recommendations suggested. (AI summary)

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Dear Sir, Rebecca jodie CURIIS-SMALL Deceased DOD31.12.2013 Regulation 28 Report We refer to vour letter dated 4 November addressed to Parkdean Holidays Ruda Holiday Park Ltd enclosing the Regulation 28 Report: Parkdean Holiday Parks Limited is the owner and operator of Ruda Holiday Park and the beach at Croyde, North Devon. We take our responsibilities as the owner of the beach extremely seriously and we take all reasonably practical steps to ensure the safety of beach users_ We note the two matters of concern listed in the Regulation 28 Report. signage that is displayed at Croyde Beach has been designed and erected in agreement with the RNLI and these signs are consistent with signage and information that is provided at several beaches in the North Devon area and elsewhere in England: The signs clearly state whether a lifeguard is on duty at the beach (as this varies depending on the time of year) and identifies the dangers of rip tides, offshore winds, rocks and sudden drops in sea floor. The advice provided by the RNLI relates to the content and layout of the signs and also the number and location of signs erected at the beach: Large safety and information signs are prominently displayed on each of the five access points to Croyde Beach and the exact location of these signs was discussed with the RNLI at the time the signs were erected (which pre-dates 31.12.2013)_ In light of the advice previously provided by the RNLI Parkdean Holidays considers the signage in place is appropriate and sufficient to provide relevant safety information to beach users. However; the company is very willing to discuss the matter further with the RNLI and act upon any recommendations which may be suggested; if any: Parkdean Holidays recognises the importance of ensuring any signage displayed is as clear and user-friendly as possible and is consistent with similar information provided at other beaches in the local area. Parkdean Holiday Parks Limited Registered in England: 4086679 Registered Office: Zrid Floor; One Gosfarth Park Way, Gjosforth Business Fark, Newcastle upon Tyne; NE12 8ET The

We trust that we have provided a substantive response to the points raised in the report; If you require further information please contact us on 0191 256 0707 _

Maritime Coastguard Agency Central Government

19 Dec 2014 PDF

Noted

The MCA states that the placement, content and maintenance of signage at Croyde Beach is not their responsibility, nor the RNLI's. The MCA will proactively engage with the RNLI on this issue and offer support where necessary. (AI summary)

View full response

Dear Mr Tomalin Rebecca Jodie CURTIS-SMALL Deceased DOD 31.12.2013 Inquest: 9 October at County Hall; Topsham Road, Exeter: Regulation 28 Report am writing to you as a follow up to my previous correspondence dated 19 December 2014 requesting a time extension for my response to you whilst consulted other SAR colleagues have now completed that work. In particular; have spoken with the RNLI regarding their published guidance document of 2007 regarding the advice on placement of water safety signs and beach safety flags_ This document was produced for the use of local authorities, beach owners and operators to assist them in specifying and installing new signs and flags as part of their control measures to improve beach safety- The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) was a contributor to this guidance along with the National Beach Safety Council; National Water Safety Forum, and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents_ The exact placement; content and maintenance of the signage at Croyde Beach is not the responsibility of the MCA or the RNLI and am unable to comment on the historical placement arrangements_ With regard to evidence that the signs on this particular beach could have been better placed do understand that the exact placement of signage is often a compromise due to demands of requirements by planning and local authorities, beach owners or operators or environmental, financial or other constraints The MCA is absolutely committed to reducing the incidents of drowning through education, supervision, rescue response and; where appropriate working with other organisations. know that in 2015 RNLI is increasing its investment into comprehensive, integrated, community approach to lifesaving interventions which will include working with those involved with Croyde beach to assist with their risk assessment process to ensure, SO far as is reasonably practicable, the risk is mitigated. can assure you that MCA will proactively engage with the RNLI on this issue and offer support where necessary:

Report sections

Investigation and inquest

On THE 31s December 2013 commenced an investigation into the death of Rebecca Jodie CURTIS-SMALL, aged 42 investigation concluded with an inquest held on gth October 2014. The conclusion of inquest was Accident Death On the 31st December 2013 the Deceased was in the water with her family at Croyde North Devon, when she found herself in difficulties due to sea conditions and a rip tide_ After a search involving Lifeboats, Coastguards and Royal Air Force Search and Rescue Helicopter lasting 1% 12 hours at 1302 hours the Deceased was airlifted to North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple where she died from Drowning and Hypothermia:

Circumstances of the death

Circumstances of the death: The deceased and her family had gone swimming in Croyde in North Devon on 31st December 2013. A rip tide had taken the deceased out to sea and as a result; a full scale search was instigated involving the coastguard service , search and rescue helicopters and both the RMLI all-weather lifeboat and the inshore lifeboat The sea conditions were difficult with large swell and high waves. The search lasted approximately hour 45 minutes until the deceased was found on the shoreline and taken by helicopter to the North Devon District Hospital where rewarming and resuscitation attempts were commenced but stopped after one hour: During the Inquest reference was made to the signs displayed at Croyde beach which the family claimed they had not seen: Those signs refer to potential hazards including rip currents_ The Inquest was told by HM Coastguards that these were the prescribed RNLI signs. The evidence of the coastguards were that the signs could perhaps be better displayed because the warning part of the sign could not be seen on the entrance to the beach as the sign was erected parallel to the slipway entrance onto the beach: The Inquest was told that there are three rip tides at Croyde, one on either side of the nearest the rocks and one towards the centre where there is a sand bar although this rip current would move depending upon sea conditions Bay; Bay The the Bay; I(a) Bay bay

Action should be taken

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and believe you [ANDIOR your organisation] have the power to take such action_

Similar PFD reports

Shared signals

Report details

Reference: 2014-0483
Date of report: 4 November 2014
Coroner: John Tomalin
Coroner area: Exeter & Greater Devon

Responses identified

Responses identified 3 of 4

1 response not yet linked

Organisations named in PFD reports are normally expected to respond within 56 days. Deadline: 30 Dec 2014.

Sent to

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

North Devon District Council

Parkdeane Holidays

Royal National Lifeboat Institute

Source links

Judiciary.uk page → Report PDF →

Data: judiciary.uk under OGL.