Carl Lee Thompson · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 25 August 2015 I opened an inquest into the death of Carl Lee Thompson who, at the date of his death, was aged 36 years. The inquest was resumed and concluded on 23 February 2016.

I found that the cause of death to be: -

1a. Drowning

I concluded with a Narrative finding as follows:

On 10 August 2015 Carl Lee Thompson died from drowning after being overcome by a rip tide whilst he was bathing in the sea on holiday in Fuerteventura. The life saving equipment was inadequate and in any event the lifeguards were untrained in the use of the equipment, but it remains unclear whether, had the life saving equipment been working and the life guards correctly trained, it would have made a difference to the outcome.

On 10 August 2015 at approximately 5.00 pm, Carl Lee Thomson was bathing in the sea with his family in the area of the Hotel Oliva Beach, Corralejo, in the municipality of La Oliva, when they suddenly became overwhelmed by the surf and waves. At the time a yellow flag was being displayed on the beach. Although his family managed to leave the sea safely, Carl found himself overwhelmed such that he was immediately rescued from the sea by the lifeguards and they immediately undertook sustained attempts to resuscitate him, but he succumbed and passed away. The pathologist provided the cause of his death as drowning.

• The emergency bag did not contain suction equipment to clear the airways
• A hole in the ambubag used in the resuscitation attempts prevented the flow of oxygen
• The defibrillator used during resuscitation was inoperable given it was found to have no batteries
• Delay of 45 minutes to obtain a replacement defibrillator
• Absence of equipment to dry the casualty
• Substantial delay before the arrival of the ambulance and doctor for emergency treatment.