Peter Norton · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 30th September I commenced an investigation into the death of 79 year old Peter Norton. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 9th March 2017. The conclusion of the inquest was that Mr Norton had suffered an accidental death from a fatal head injury sustained after falling off his bicycle whilst test riding it inside Halfords store in St Austell.

Mr Norton attended Halfords St Austell on 21st September 2016 and asked the store assistant to check the gears on a recently purchased bicycle. The store assistant made the appropriate checks on the gears and then invited Mr Norton to try out the bicycle in-store. Mr Norton then rode the bicycle down the aisle from the rear of the store towards the checkout. He travelled some 40 yards before turning around an aisle. At this point Mr Norton fell off his bicycle and suffered the fatal head injury.

Mr Norton was not wearing a helmet and there was no discussion about whether or not he should wear a helmet when cycling in-store.

The inquest heard as follows

• That it was common practice for customers to ride bicycles in-store.
• That there was no policy regulating the riding of bicycles in-store.
• That there was no policy requiring helmets to be worn when riding a bicycle in-store.
• That there was no risk assessment concerning the riding of bicycles in-store.
• The accident report was completed approximately a week after the incident following the visit of Health and Safety inspectors. The latter gave evidence that best practice required the recording of all accidents, including near misses.

Mr Norton lost consciousness late on the 21st September and was conveyed by ambulance to Royal Cornwall Hospital. He never regained consciousness and died on the 24th September 2016.

A post mortem identified the cause of death as a traumatic brain injury.

1. The absence of guidance or policy concerning the riding of bicycles in-store.
2. The absence of a safe area in-store designated for cycling in-store.
3. The absence of guidance or policy concerning the use of helmets when cycling in-store.
4. The absence of risk assessments in relation to cycling in-store.
5. The application of best practice as regards accident reporting.