Malika Shammas and Haider Ali · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 12 August 2019 I commenced an investigation into the deaths of 14 year old Malika Shammas and 18 year old Haider Ali. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 17 February 2020. The conclusions of the inquests were that both died as a result of an accident. The causes of death were respectively 1a) Drowning and 1a) Pneumonia and Brain damage 1b) Drowning

The brother and sister got into difficulties while bathing in the sea, near a groyne, at Clacton-on-Sea on 8 August 2019. They had travelled along with other family members from their home in Luton for a day at the seaside. In 2018 there had been a previous drowning fatality incident on Clacton beach

1. The inadequacy of the signage. Tendring District Council asserted that this equates to national standards but the court had qualms about the effectiveness of the existing signage.
2. The Danger sign by the relevant groyne was difficult to read. The wording and layout could be improved and maybe such notices by each groyne would assist. There was vivid evidence from the young victims’ mother of the swirling nature of the currents around the relevant groyne
3. Mindful that there had been a previous teenage drowning fatality at Clacton beach near the pier, warning notices by the pier might assist.
4. The Beach Information notice on Clacton’s West Beach contains a great deal of important information for beach users but some of the information was written in small text and hence difficult to read. The court wondered indeed how many passers by actually read the information. The council could look into the improvement of these notices and whether there should be more of them along this stretch of beach. Perhaps there could be some more child friendly information boards.
5. The beach patrol officer was 395 metres away from the fatality incident and was unable even with the use of binoculars to discern the nature of the incident.. More extensive surveillance would help on such a busy stretch of beach.
6. Perhaps more liaison with the RNLI which provides beach safety measures on some beaches would benefit the council’s efforts to provide beach safety.