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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Safety call follows canoe death | Safety call follows canoe death |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A coroner has called for the rules governing canoe hire on rivers to be reviewed after a nine-year-old girl drowned in fast-flowing rapids. | A coroner has called for the rules governing canoe hire on rivers to be reviewed after a nine-year-old girl drowned in fast-flowing rapids. |
| Powys coroner Peter Maddox recorded a verdict of misadventure at an inquest into the death of Billie Clayton. | Powys coroner Peter Maddox recorded a verdict of misadventure at an inquest into the death of Billie Clayton. |
| Billie was on the River Wye in Powys with her twin brother Edward and their father Ian when the incident happened at Glasbury in April 2006. | Billie was on the River Wye in Powys with her twin brother Edward and their father Ian when the incident happened at Glasbury in April 2006. |
| But the British Canoe Union said the sport had a good safety record. | But the British Canoe Union said the sport had a good safety record. |
| Mr Clayton, 48, of Featherstone, West Yorkshire, and a presenter for ITV Yorkshire, had told the three-day hearing in Welshpool that their canoe overturned after he took a wrong turn while they tried to make their way downstream in Hay-on-Wye. | Mr Clayton, 48, of Featherstone, West Yorkshire, and a presenter for ITV Yorkshire, had told the three-day hearing in Welshpool that their canoe overturned after he took a wrong turn while they tried to make their way downstream in Hay-on-Wye. |
| He said he was able to reach his son, but Billie was not found until it was too late. | He said he was able to reach his son, but Billie was not found until it was too late. |
| In the 21st Century we ought to be able to balance risk, adventure and safety Ian Clayton speaking outside the coroner's court | In the 21st Century we ought to be able to balance risk, adventure and safety Ian Clayton speaking outside the coroner's court |
| She was later pronounced dead at Hereford General Hospital. | She was later pronounced dead at Hereford General Hospital. |
| During a lengthy summing-up, coroner Mr Maddox issued a seven-page summary of the evidence and findings which carried an 11-point list of proven facts for use by a future review body. | |
| He described the present system as "too relaxed and potentially confusing". | He described the present system as "too relaxed and potentially confusing". |
| He said he would write to the Adventure Activities Licensing Service (AALC) and the Health and Safety Executive, to which it is answerable, suggesting rules governing canoe hire undergo a full review. | He said he would write to the Adventure Activities Licensing Service (AALC) and the Health and Safety Executive, to which it is answerable, suggesting rules governing canoe hire undergo a full review. |
| Following the inquest, Mr Clayton criticised the canoe-hire industry. | Following the inquest, Mr Clayton criticised the canoe-hire industry. |
| "We live in times of increased awareness about health and safety issues yet it seems to me that any Tom, Dick, Harry or fly-by-night merchant can take money to hire out their canoe without regulation," he said. | "We live in times of increased awareness about health and safety issues yet it seems to me that any Tom, Dick, Harry or fly-by-night merchant can take money to hire out their canoe without regulation," he said. |
| 'Balance risk' | 'Balance risk' |
| "If I am a customer of a canoe-hire company, I'm expected to have some knowledge of how to keep safe, how to paddle and what to do in case of capsizing. | |
| "Yet if I wish to hire out that canoe, I don't even have to know which end of the paddle to put into the water. | |
| "Now, I don't believe you can ever have 100% safety and in physical activity there always has to be an element of risk for an adventure to be an adventure. | |
| "But in the 21st Century we ought to be able to balance risk, adventure and safety." | "But in the 21st Century we ought to be able to balance risk, adventure and safety." |
| After the inquest, the British Canoe Union and Welsh Canoeing Association said the pastime had a good safety record. | After the inquest, the British Canoe Union and Welsh Canoeing Association said the pastime had a good safety record. |
| In a joint statement, they said: "As both a sport and recreation, canoeing boasts an exemplary heath and safety record together with a strong and flourishing activity base of participants covering all ages and abilities. | In a joint statement, they said: "As both a sport and recreation, canoeing boasts an exemplary heath and safety record together with a strong and flourishing activity base of participants covering all ages and abilities. |
| "The incident involving the death of Billie Clayton was extremely unfortunate and rare. It would be inappropriate to pass any comment in the absence of the coroner's conclusions. | "The incident involving the death of Billie Clayton was extremely unfortunate and rare. It would be inappropriate to pass any comment in the absence of the coroner's conclusions. |
| "Much has been made of the absence of a licensing system for providers of canoe-hire equipment. | |
| "It is impossible to conclude that such a system, if it existed, would have prevented the incident on the Wye. | "It is impossible to conclude that such a system, if it existed, would have prevented the incident on the Wye. |
| "It should be remembered that, like any outdoor activity, canoeing is an assumed-risk sport, and that generally canoeing is as safe as the participant makes it." | "It should be remembered that, like any outdoor activity, canoeing is an assumed-risk sport, and that generally canoeing is as safe as the participant makes it." |