Anthony David RODÈ · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 13/08/2021 I commenced an investigation into the death of Anthony David RODÈ aged 74. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 24/01/2022. The medical cause of death was:
1a) Hypoxic Brain Injury
1b) Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest
1c) Spinal Fractures Following a Fall
1d)
2
The conclusion of the inquest was: Accident.

Mr Rodè was a volunteer for the Coastwatch Institution, based at Second Avenue, Caister On Sea.
On 24 July 2021 Mr Rodè used his own strimmer to cut grass on sand dunes next to the office, which had grown to such a height it was restricting the view from the hut down the beach. Whilst strimming the grass, Mr Rodè fell down the bank onto the concrete path below sustaining injuries which led to his death

1. There is a dispute between Great Yarmouth Borough Council and Caister-On-Sea Parish Council as to who is responsible for the stretch of land where Mr Rodè was strimming the grass.
2. Caister-On-Sea Parish Council state that the bank is part of the sea defences and so is the responsibility of the Great Yarmouth Borough Council.
3. Great Yarmouth Borough Council state the land belongs to the Parish Council and so is their responsibility.
4. As a result, neither organisation has taken responsibility for this section of coastline and the grass on the dunes has grown to such a height as to obscure the view of the Coastwatch volunteers along the beach.
5. Accordingly, the Coastwatch volunteers are unable to properly carry out their role to provide the “eyes and ears” along the coast and to assist in the protection and preservation of life at sea along the coastline. In addition, in this case, it has resulted in a volunteer maker taking the decision to cut the grass himself in circumstances when it was not safe to do so