Jeremy Sutch
22 Feb 2019 · Coroner Nigel Parsley · Suffolk
The coroner's concerns
1. medical evacuation delays due to unfamiliar wheelchair extraction stretcher
“It was heard in evidence that the captain of the MV Platinum Explorer, on hearing that [the deceased] had suffered crush injuries to the chest referred to The Ship Captain's Medical Guide.”
2. lack of training on wheelchair extraction device
“The fact that the crew were unfamiliar with the wheelchair extraction stretcher needed in [the deceased]'s case, led to the follow.”
3. crane work basket size limitation
“Thecrane work basket was too large and heavy to be manoeuvred into the rear of the waiting tender (which was fibreglass and risked damage).”
4. staircase obstruction of evacuation equipment
“The wheelchair stretcher would not fit down the spiral stairs leading to the passenger/casualty space inside the tender.”
5. manual self-evacuation required of injured person
“Despite his injuries [the deceased] had to physically lower himself one step at a time into the passenger space of the tender before he could be taken ashore to receive medical attention.”
6. survivability risk from evacuation delays
“am concerned that should a similar situation arise with a casualty whose injuries may be survivable, their chance of survival would be reduced by the delays caused by the difficulties identified in this case.”