Emma Powell
28 Dec 2022 · Coroner John Gittins · North Wales (East and Central)
The coroner's concerns
1. lack of mandatory safety information for paddleboard purchasers
“Unless action is taken to improve the provision of information to purchasers of paddleboards and/or to regulate the sale of paddleboards to ensure that the provision of advice of this nature becomes a mandatory requirement at the point of retail sale, then there is an ongoing risk that further accidents will occur and that lives may be lost as a result.”
2. absence of safety guidance on equipment use
“The evidence further indicated that at the point of sale, there was no safety advice or guidance provided in relation to either the advisory wearing of a safety vest, or the need to be aware that the positioning of a safety leash should take into account the environment/water conditions where the paddleboard is to be used”
3. inappropriate use of paddleboard without proper safety equipment
“The evidence at inquest indicated that Miss [name redacted] had purchased a paddleboard from Tesco at Llandudno Junction on the evening of the 14th of July 2022, that she had taken it to Conwy Morfa and had thereafter used it in an unsafe manner, whereby she did not wear any life saving equipment and the safety leash on the board was by way of an ankle leash which was inappropriate for the fast flowing water”