Coastguards sued over Lyme Bay canoe deaths
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A damages claim against the Government over the 1993 Lyme Bay canoeing disaster in which four teenagers were drowned has the potential to cost huge sums of money, it emerged yesterday.
A writ just issued against the Department of Transport, which is responsible for the coastguard service, alleges that the youngsters who died would have survived but for negligence by coastguards and that the survivors would not have been injured.
The action has been launched by organisers of the canoeing trip, OLL Ltd, of Ellenborough House, Wellington Street, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. They are seeking an indemnity in respect of compensation they have paid to the families of those who died and to the survivors. Their writ claims that HM Coastguard Portland, Dorset, failed to convey any sense of urgency to Royal Navy helicopters, misinterpreted weather conditions, directed search helicopters to the wrong area and failed to operate an effective chain of command.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments