‘This is a very detailed report from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch and there are a number of very significant findings and recommendations for anyone operating on the water with people with disabilities. I do recommend having a read and sharing with your teams. It makes very sobering reading.’ Sean Day, Chief Executive, Lake District Calvert Trust
On 8 June 2022, two wheelchair users drowned when the open boat they were travelling in capsized on Roadford Lake, Devon, England. The two people were part of a group of residents and carers from a local care home who had hired Wheelyboat 123 from the lake’s activity centre for a trip around the lake. The two residents who drowned were strapped into their motorised wheelchairs and rapidly sank to the bottom of the lake when they were thrown into the water during the capsize and could not be rescued.
Wheelyboat 123 capsized due to a loss of stability caused by an accumulation of water on the deck. The water had entered the boat during the trip because the watertight sealing arrangement on the bow door was ineffective and the boat’s loading caused it to adopt a bow down trim in the water. The bow trim increased as the water accumulated in the port forward corner and, as Wheelyboat 123 made a turn to port, water freely flooded over the port bow. The driver stood up to see what was happening, adding to the heel. The motorised wheelchairs then slid over the tipping deck as the boat capsized, throwing all the occupants into the water.
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The RYA also have some advice.
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