Robbie Mark Williamson · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 24/04/2014 I commenced an investigation into the death of Robbie Mark Williamson then aged 11. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 04 March 2015. The conclusion of the inquest was Accidental death. On 22 April 2014 Robbie Mark Williamson fell from an exposed pipe into the canal. The medical cause of death being drowning.

On the 22nd April 2014 Robbie was with two school friends when they dared each other to cross the canal by walking across an exposed cast iron gas pipe attached to the outside of a road bridge. The surface of the pipe was wet and slippery. There was no sign warning that there should be no access to the pipe. There were no obstacles to prevent access to the pipe. Robbie slipped whilst crossing and fell into the canal injuring himself on the canal bank as he did so. He was in the water a number of minutes before being pulled from the canal, where after he received medical treatment before being pronounced dead at Royal Blackburn Hospital the same day. ████████ offered medical cause of death as;

1 (a) Drowning
2 Head injury

National Grid accepted they were responsible for the pipe line. Evidence was heard that they control approximately a quarter of pipelines countrywide. Their own database had shown that this pipe was under the pavement. Since Robbie's death they have made the pipe safe and also commenced an investigation into the safety of the piping they control.

(1) There may be exposed raised pipework for which you are responsible, either attached to bridges or otherwise, that is accessible to members of the public.