4 overboard, 2 dead and a Police investigation.

[Seven Spades]

According to the BBC 4 seamen were washed off the deck of an American Sub in Plymouth Sound. The four men were picked up immediately by one of the two escorting vessels, and two died before the vessel reached the shore. Sad news for the families and it is a solemn reminder of how cold water alone can kill so quickly.

The USS Minneapolis-St. Paul has now departed but according to the PM show on BBC R4 it will return when the weather will allow. There is now to be a Police investigation - why?

There are only two possible conclusions:-

1. A tragic accident.

2. Some form of Negligence.

In either case nothing will happen, the Police will not arrest the Commanding Officer, and there will not be a prosecution of Corporate Manslaughter. Even if there is a case for negligence, which I doubt, it will be a white wash and covered up, the British Government is not going to imprison US Navy personnel.

 

[pampas]

On the local news from Plymouth, all four had saftey lines clipped on. but were dragged along the side casing, the two who died did so on route to hospital.

 

[tillergirl]

There is an investigation into every 'sudden death' in this country and a Coroner's Inquest. Sometimes the investigation is 'big' and sometimes 'small', depending upon the circumstances. I suspect there will be an American Navy investigation as well.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Now I don't know all the facts but I wopuld bet that it wasn't the cold water which killed those unfortunate seamen rather the being dragged along by their safety lines. I would expect that they drowned very quickly.

Being dragged along at any speed is a most unpleasant experience at the best of times, the greater the speed the more dangerous it becomes.

 

[jimbaerselman]

[ QUOTE ]
There are only two possible conclusions:-

1. A tragic accident.

2. Some form of Negligence.

In either case nothing will happen, the Police will not arrest the Commanding Officer, and there will not be a prosecution of Corporate Manslaughter. Even if there is a case for negligence, which I doubt, it will be a white wash and covered up, the British Government is not going to imprison US Navy personnel.


[/ QUOTE ]
That's the trouble, these authorities are always jumping to conclusions . . .

Or maybe, rather than trying to allocate blame and punish, they'll investigate the cause to see if suitable procedures could reduce the chances of similar incidents in the future?

 

[EdWingfield]

'There are only two possible conclusions:-'

What about 3. Foul play/sabotage?

But as you've taken the media's reporting of 'the facts' as gospel and already rubbished the enquiry, there's little point in wasting any more time is there.

Ever thought of becoming a Magistrate Tosca? I imagine you'd be quite good.

 

[Captain_Chaos]

I was a few miles up the Tamar when this tradegy took place.
It was blowing an absolute hoolie and there were white horses on the waves at Weir Quay so I can only speculate as to what the sea conditions were like outside the breakwater.

I cannot imagine why a sub would leave the safe haven of Plymouth Sound with 4 people on deck. A tragic waste of life.

 

[Rabbie]

ALL sudden and apparently unnatural deaths must be reported to the Coroner in the district in which the bodies were recovered. The police act on behalf of the Coroner into why, when and how the death occurred. The Coroner usually holds an Inquest into the facts and gives his verdict.