Barry John HOWARD · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 21 December 2023, I commenced an investigation into the death of Barry John HOWARD aged 75. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 16 July 2024.

The medical cause of death was:
1a) Drowning
1b)
1c)
2)

The conclusion of the inquest was:
Accident contributed to by lack of visible warning signs of flooding and road closure.

On 13 December 2023, Barry Howard was travelling along Mill Lane towards Shotesham Ford, an unbridged Ford, after 10pm. He was not familiar with the road which had previously been closed at the request of police due to flooding. The temporary signs indicating that the road was closed and impassable were not visible and the signs warning of the Ford and the depth of water, were beyond the flooded section of road, and on the balance of probabilities were not visible to Mr Howard before he entered the water.

After entering the water his car was swept away into the river and he was found deceased in his car, which was almost completely submerged, at the Unbridged Ford, Mill Lane, Shotesham, Norfolk on 14 December 2023.

i. While the evidence I heard was that the Council consider that the current signage is adequate & has been inspected, there was a history of incidents reported to them, and sadly the very tragic death of Barry. That suggests that, while they consider it adequate, it was not sufficiently so to prevent those incidents & Barry’s death. I have heard nothing to reassure me that appropriate action has been taken to prevent others continuing to fail to be aware of the risk of the unbridged Ford, especially after heavy periods of rain.

ii. A lack of any appropriate warning signs that this Ford is prone to flooding which may make it unsafe to cross.

iii. A lack of signs sufficiently in advance of the Ford so as to warn road users at times of extreme flooding. The current signs were well within the flooded area on the night in question and I am concerned they would not be visible, especially to those unfamiliar with the road and in the dark, until they were already in the flood water.

iv. The slippery surface of the road.

v. The insufficiency of the temporary road closed signs used and the lack of more permanent measures, in accordance with guidelines, once the closure lasted more than 24 hours. It was only a week prior to the inquest, some 7 months after this death, that action was taken. I am concerned that such lengthy delays to implement safety measures will lead to a risk in future incidents at this and possibly other locations.

vi. The evidence was that more appropriate measures for road closure should have been considered, but there was no evidence as to why they were not, or that this has been considered and action taken to address the reasons. I have not heard of any change to the way the team works, and I was repeatedly told they are a small team with a large area to cover - which means that there are risks of future issues with regards to the suitability of temporary signs and the correct procedures being followed when they need to be more permanent.