Inquest rules Cornwall drowning victims died due to Covid rules
There were no lifeguards on duty - Government criticised
Last updated 1st Feb 2024
A Coroner has ruled three men drowned to death in Cornwall because Coronavirus restrictions meant there was no lifeguard on duty.
HM Coroner, Andrew Cox, noted that social distancing and lockdown rules affected all three incidents between May-August 2020.
The Coroner emphasized that lifeguards would have typically been present, potentially preventing the tragedies. He criticized the UK government for not informing the RNLI in advance about lifting restrictions.
63 year old Michael Pender drowned at Treyarnon Bay on the north coast in May, 30 year old Jan Klempar at Porthcurno in June and56 year old Paul Mullen died at Church Cove at Gunwalloe, on the Lizard peninsula, in August.
Pender, a proficient local swimmer, encountered strong currents after diving under waves to cool off, as revealed in the five-day inquest.
Klempar, visiting from Walsall, West Midlands, was swept out to sea by large waves during a family beach outing. Lifeguard services returned two days later.
Mullen, from Hertfordshire, tragically drowned while rushing into the sea to rescue his 14-year-old son, who had gotten into trouble. Although the teenager was rescued by a helicopter, Mullen could not be saved.
The RNLI had difficulties ramping up services due to limited trained personnel. Despite this, in 2022, RNLI lifeguards saved 117 lives across 242 beaches in the UK and Channel Islands.