Raymond Barrie Thomas MILLS · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 22 August 2024 I commenced an investigation into the death of Raymond Barrie Thomas MILLS aged 74. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 22 January 2025

The medical cause of death was:
1a) Ischaemic Heart Disease and Drowning

The conclusion of the inquest was:
Died due to accident caused by underlying natural causes.

In summary, on the 17th of August 2024 Mr Mills went to view a shipwreck off the coast of Brancaster beach in Norfolk. While doing so he went under the water when the tide came in and a search operation was launched by the Coast Guard. He was sadly found unresponsive in the sea and despite attempts to revive him, he died after being airlifted to the local airport.

At the Inquest concern was raised by Mr Mills’ family that there was not actually a sign at the site of the shipwreck warning the dangers of the tides at the wreck. Reference was made to some signs which are pictured online, but it was unclear to me whether they were current and in place and in a bundle of photographs that had been provided by the National Trust with warning signs, they did not provide photographs of any signs at the site of the wreck. I was unclear if this was because they are no longer there or just that they did not realise these may be of assistance.

As this issue was raised at the hearing and we had not had the opportunity to ask the questions of National Trust prior to this, I was unclear whether my obligation under Regulation 28 had been triggered. I therefore indicated that I would write a letter to obtain more information and decide upon receipt of that response.

This however then triggered a whole series of correspondence, the outcome of which, is that no one seems to know who is responsible for the shipwreck.

1. I am concerned that, in light of the above, there is no safe system in place to ensure that an organisation is responsible for the management and safety of such shipwrecks which are accessible by members of the public.

2. With no clear system to ensure that the owners can be identified, there is no system to ensure that concerns can be raised with them when safety concerns arise.

3. That that wreckage does not have sufficient warnings at the location to alert members of the public, particularly those who are not familiar with the tidal waters, of the dangers present at the wreck.