MARITIME AND
COASTGUARD AGENCY News Release (162-09) issued by COI News
Distribution Service on 27 May 2009
The Sheriff's
Determination following the Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) at
Stornoway and Inverness Sheriff Courts was issued today by Sheriff
Alasdair Lorne MacFadyen today. The Maritime & Coastguard
Agency extends its profound sympathies to the family and friends
of Kaylee McIntosh 14, from Fyvie in Aberdeenshire, who drowned in
August 2007after an army cadet boat capsized off South Uist.
Kaylee died while on Loch Carnan in the Outer Hebrides, while
taking part in a three-boat training exercise on 3 August, 2007.
A rescue operation coordinated by Her Majesty's Coastguard
was launched after the power boat carrying the schoolgirl and 11
others capsized in choppy seas.
An failure to take a headcount taken after the incident meant the
teenager was trapped under the upturned boat for one-and-a-half
hours before it was noticed she was missing.
Captain Allan Marsh, Enforcement Officer from the MCA said
"We heard throughout the FAI a story of confusion and error,
and a misunderstanding of how the boat should have been operated
in open sea conditions and general lack of preparedness including
having an up to date weather forecast, navigation charts and
undertaking capsize drills. We also heard about a delay in
contacting the Coastguard and an uncertainty of the correct
location of the boat in distress.
"Our great concern is that in an organised party of young
people such as there was no detailed risk assessment and it
appears that the organizers failed to recognize that incorrect
lifejackets, were issued to children. The incorrect use of troop
assault lifejackets caused Kaylee to be trapped underneath the
upturned boat.
"We are further concerned about the later error of not
identifying, or counting Kaylee amongst those recovered from the
capsize until much later.
"Operators of open boats such as the type used on the
fateful trip, and indeed, any small boat using trunk self balers,
must be completely conversant in their safe operation, including
general stability issues, if a large amount of water is taken on
board whilst underway. T
The use of the "buddy system" instead of a dedicated
safety boat was inappropriate for the trip because the other boats
were of smaller capacity and due to the risk of becoming separated
as happened on this occasion.
"The whole tragic circumstances surrounding Kaylee's
death were compounded by the fact that the Coastguard had no prior
knowledge of the trip by such a large group of youngsters.
"Children's safety must be of paramount concern to all
of us, and specifically when in open sea conditions, extra care at
all times needs to be taken.
"The FAI was a master class in laying bare the chain of
inadequacies and omissions of those who had primary responsibility
for the well being of Kaylee and her cadet colleagues, and who
badly let down the parents who entrusted their children into the
care of those responsible.
"We hope this avoidable tragedy will highlight to other
organisations whether military or civilian, that exposure to risk
and the elements at sea require all those in charge to take
responsibility and prepare an adequate risk assessment at every
stage so that key safety elements such as informing the Coastguard
of their intentions take place.
For further information please contact
Maritime and
Coastguard Agency Press Office, on:
(023) 8032 9401
Press releases and further information about the Agency is
available on the Web at http://www.mcga.gov.uk
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