Investigation and inquest
On the 23rd April 2013 I commenced an investigation into the death of Michael Robert Hanlon who was born on the 8th December 1990. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 27th May 2015. The conclusion of the inquest was that Michael died from
1(a) Drowning. His death was an accident.
Circumstances of the death
On the 6th April 2013 Michal Robert Hanlon acted as deckhand on a luxury boat M.Y.FAITH owned by you. It came in to Antibes Harbour. He had worked a night watch and then worked for the whole of the 6th April 2013 without rest or sleep. He with other members of the crew went out in to Antibes to meet friends. He returned to the boat at approximately 11.30p.m. but did not enter it. He was seen walking on the boat until 00.11 on the 7th April 2013. At some point later before 00.22 he fell from the upper deck of the boat hitting the quay before drowning in the harbour.
Coroner’s concerns
During the Inquest it became apparent that members of the crew had failed to gain entry to the boat on returning from on shore. One crewmember had slept on deck. I also concluded one crewmember had attempted to climb through a doorway on the upper deck near to the position where the deceased had fallen. There was a possibility, but no finding was made, that the deceased may have been endeavouring to enter the boat by this route when he fell.
I also concluded crewmembers and in this case the deceased were likely to have been asked to work additional shifts when the boat came in to port, potentially causing tiredness amongst crewmembers. Further the deceased’s work pattern did not match the shift rota and his time sheet was not made up to the time of his last shift.
The system for entering the boat after 10.00p.m involved certain members of the crew having a key, but otherwise requiring knowledge of a key code to obtain a key from a box situated at the front of the boat. The key could then be taken to the entry door at the rear of the boat, a door opened and then the key returned to the front of the boat in to the key box before the crewmember would then enter the open door.