UK Inquiry Tracker

Isaac Nash

PFD Report All Responded Ref: 2015-0028

Date of Report 30 January 2015

Coroner Dewi Pritchard

Coroner Area North West Wales

Response Deadline est. 27 March 2015

Child Death (from 2015) Other related deaths

Judiciary.uk Report PDF

All 1 response received · Deadline: 27 Mar 2015

Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)

Strong and unpredictable currents in Aberffraw beach's river estuary pose a danger, as visitors lack local knowledge and there are no warning signs to inform them.

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(1) Whereas it is acknowledged that there is no such thing as a safe beach Aberffraw is generally considered to be a beach that is safe for children: Unfortunately, the area where the river estuary is located is, at times, subject to very strong currents and there is no way by which a person using the beach can be aware of this other than by having local knowledge. In this case, the adults accompanying the deceased were extremely sensible and safety conscious but could not have been aware of the strong tidal conditions prevailing when the children were playing on the beach they had been aware of the strong tide at that time they may either have not gone onto the beach or would have chosen a location in the where the tidal stream is not great and would have ensured that the children would not stray into the strong tidal area, would suggest that you consider erecting signs to warn the public of the potential danger in the river estuary part of Aberffraw

Responses

Response Isle of Anglesey County Council Local Authority / Fire Service

30 Mar 2015

Action Taken
The Council has held meetings with the local community and undertaken a risk assessment. A new warning sign is to be placed in the car park drawing particular attention to the potential dangers at Trwyn Du. (AI summary)

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Dear Mr Pritchard Jones RE: ISAAC NASH DECEASED refer to your correspondence dated 30th January 2015 regarding your Inquest into the death of Isaac Nash and Statutory Notice under Paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. The Isle of Anglesey County Council, acting as the relevant Local Authority in this matter has taken the following action in response to your Notice: 1_ Senior Elected Members and Officers have held six meetings with the local community, including three meetings with the Aberffraw Community Council (one of which comprised a site visit) and discussions have also been held withl of Glan Aber at Trwyn Du itself: 2 A risk assessment has been undertaken by the Council's Maritime Team (copy attached for your perusal) and arrangements are in place for members of the Maritime Team to monitor on regular basis the lifebuoys sited on the beach itself. 3_ Following the action in 1 and 2 above a new warning sign is to be placed in the car park_ This sign draws particular attention to the potential dangers at Trwyn Du. In dialogue with the Aberffraw Community Council and the Bodorgan Estate, the landowner; we have attempted to strike the right balance between the safety issues and the local tourist industry in the village of Aberffraw: 4_ It is intended that the new sign is erected during the week 30 March ~ 2 April and in time for the influx of visitors to the area over the Easter Bank Holiday: therefore, trust that you accept that as the Local Authority, we have engaged with the relevant stakeholders, addressed the issues you identified in your Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths, and that we have complied with the requirements of your Statutory Notice Gwefan:

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Please contact me at your convenience if can be of future assistance to you in this matter.

Sent To

Ynys Mon County Council

Response Status

Linked responses 1 of 1

56-Day Deadline 27 Mar 2015

All responses received

About PFD responses

Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.

Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Report Sections

Investigation and Inquest

On 28th November 2014 commenced an investigation into the death of ISAAC NASH Aged 12 years The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 21st January 2015: The conclusion of the inquest was that the medical cause of death was drowning that death was due t0 Misadventure_

Circumstances of the Death

On 29"h August 2014 the deceased together with his parents and other members of his family went to the beach at Aberffraw with the intention of playing on the beach and bathing in shallow water. The family had been to this beach on several occasions and understood it to be a beach that is safe for children: The adult members of the party were aware of a potential hazard in the form of a possible strong current where the river enters the and therefore they located themselves some distance to the south of the estuary: The members of the party were not aware that when they arrived at the beach the ebbing tide was at its peak due to tidal flow in the Irish Sea, the ebbing tide in Aberffraw and the flow of water in the river. The deceased and his brother were playing in the shallow water of the but; unfortunately, they were drawn towards the river estuary_ By the time the adults realised this the children were in an area of a ebbing tide. immediately realised the danger went to recover the children who were being swept out to sea. Two adults attempted to save the children but encountered strong tidal conditions with the result that only one child was saved and the deceased was swept out to sea. The body of the deceased was never found: At the Inquest concern was expressed by the family and by local residents that Aberffraw is known to be a beach that is safe for children but there is no way of warning those enjoying the beach that there is an area where the river estuary is located where at times there can be very strong currents_

Action Should Be Taken

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