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| Coroner to recommend action to prevent future deaths at Camber Sands | Coroner to recommend action to prevent future deaths at Camber Sands |
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| A coroner has said that he is likely to make recommendations about ways to prevent future deaths at Camber Sands following seven drownings in two separate incidents there last summer. | A coroner has said that he is likely to make recommendations about ways to prevent future deaths at Camber Sands following seven drownings in two separate incidents there last summer. |
| Coroner Alan Craze said he could make these recommendations with a prevention of future deaths letter at an inquest into the deaths of five men at the beach near Rye, East Sussex, last August. | Coroner Alan Craze said he could make these recommendations with a prevention of future deaths letter at an inquest into the deaths of five men at the beach near Rye, East Sussex, last August. |
| The letter is a legal document that allows coroners to recommend that action should be taken to prevent future deaths. | The letter is a legal document that allows coroners to recommend that action should be taken to prevent future deaths. |
| The five men who died last August were Kenugen Saththiyanathan, 18, known as Ken; his brother Kobikanthan Saththiyanathan, 22, known as Kobi, both from Erith, south-east London; and their friends Nitharsan Ravi, 22, of Plumstead, south-east London; Inthushan Sriskantharasa, 23, of Grays, Essex; and Gurushanth Srithavarajah, 27, of Welling, south-east London. | The five men who died last August were Kenugen Saththiyanathan, 18, known as Ken; his brother Kobikanthan Saththiyanathan, 22, known as Kobi, both from Erith, south-east London; and their friends Nitharsan Ravi, 22, of Plumstead, south-east London; Inthushan Sriskantharasa, 23, of Grays, Essex; and Gurushanth Srithavarajah, 27, of Welling, south-east London. |
| Patrick Roche, the barrister representing five of the families who lost relatives, said that as well as wanting to ensure that no one else visiting the beach drowned, the bereaved families wanted to find out the circumstances of the deaths. | Patrick Roche, the barrister representing five of the families who lost relatives, said that as well as wanting to ensure that no one else visiting the beach drowned, the bereaved families wanted to find out the circumstances of the deaths. |
| “That will involve an examination of what happened over the last few years, including the decision at an earlier stage not to adopt safety measures in 2013,” he said. Roche said the beach held “hidden dangers”. | “That will involve an examination of what happened over the last few years, including the decision at an earlier stage not to adopt safety measures in 2013,” he said. Roche said the beach held “hidden dangers”. |
| Ajirthan Ravi, the brother of Ravi, said he hoped the inquest would lead to an improvement in safety at Camber Sands. He described the last 10 months as “tragic”, and said he believed having lifeguards at Camber at the time would have prevented the deaths. | Ajirthan Ravi, the brother of Ravi, said he hoped the inquest would lead to an improvement in safety at Camber Sands. He described the last 10 months as “tragic”, and said he believed having lifeguards at Camber at the time would have prevented the deaths. |
| In statements read out to the court Jegaleela Saththiyanathan and Arumukumam Sattiyanathan, the parents of Ken and Kobi Saththiyanathan, said their sons were physically fit and could swim. Their father said they had learned to swim in ponds next to temples the family had worshipped at in Sri Lanka when they were young children. | In statements read out to the court Jegaleela Saththiyanathan and Arumukumam Sattiyanathan, the parents of Ken and Kobi Saththiyanathan, said their sons were physically fit and could swim. Their father said they had learned to swim in ponds next to temples the family had worshipped at in Sri Lanka when they were young children. |
| Ravi’s father Nagaratnam Ravi paid tribute to his son in a statement read out to the court. He said he was a competent swimmer who swam at UK beaches and abroad, who volunteered in his community and went out of his way to help others. “He was caring, polite, humble, very active with a high work rate,” he said. | Ravi’s father Nagaratnam Ravi paid tribute to his son in a statement read out to the court. He said he was a competent swimmer who swam at UK beaches and abroad, who volunteered in his community and went out of his way to help others. “He was caring, polite, humble, very active with a high work rate,” he said. |
| Sriskantharasa had witnessed his mother being killed by shelling during the war in Sri Lanka as a teenager. He fled to the UK and claimed asylum, and had suffered from depression during the asylum process. However after he was granted refugee status his mental health improved. He was working as a shift manager at Tesco and was due to take up a college place the week after he died. | Sriskantharasa had witnessed his mother being killed by shelling during the war in Sri Lanka as a teenager. He fled to the UK and claimed asylum, and had suffered from depression during the asylum process. However after he was granted refugee status his mental health improved. He was working as a shift manager at Tesco and was due to take up a college place the week after he died. |
| Srithavarajah’s sister Kabinuja Thavarasa paid tribute to her brother and said he was fit, healthy and a good swimmer. She added that he was part of a close family and loved putting together short comedy films with friends. | Srithavarajah’s sister Kabinuja Thavarasa paid tribute to her brother and said he was fit, healthy and a good swimmer. She added that he was part of a close family and loved putting together short comedy films with friends. |
| A month before the day those five men died, two other people also lost their lives at Camber. Mohit Dupar, 36, from Hayes, west London, tried to reach Brazilian Gustavo Silva Da Cruz, 19, as he got into difficulty but both men died. | A month before the day those five men died, two other people also lost their lives at Camber. Mohit Dupar, 36, from Hayes, west London, tried to reach Brazilian Gustavo Silva Da Cruz, 19, as he got into difficulty but both men died. |
| The circumstances surrounding their deaths are also being considered as part of the inquest into the five men’s loss of life. An inquest into Dupar and Da Cruz’s deaths was adjourned last November by Craze. Da Cruz’s father, Guttenberg Silva Da Cruz, condemned the lack of emergency help when his son got into difficulty in the water and also the lack of warnings about the dangers of the sea at Camber Sands, in a statement read out to the court. His son, who lived in Brazil with his mother, was visiting his father who lives in Croydon, when he drowned during the outing to Camber Sands. “I told my wife to get the safety people but they took a long time coming,” he said. | The circumstances surrounding their deaths are also being considered as part of the inquest into the five men’s loss of life. An inquest into Dupar and Da Cruz’s deaths was adjourned last November by Craze. Da Cruz’s father, Guttenberg Silva Da Cruz, condemned the lack of emergency help when his son got into difficulty in the water and also the lack of warnings about the dangers of the sea at Camber Sands, in a statement read out to the court. His son, who lived in Brazil with his mother, was visiting his father who lives in Croydon, when he drowned during the outing to Camber Sands. “I told my wife to get the safety people but they took a long time coming,” he said. |
| Rother district council agreed in February to allocate £51,000 in its 2017-18 budget to bring in seasonal lifeguard cover following demands for safety to be increased at Camber, which can attract up to 25,000 visitors during peak holiday season. | Rother district council agreed in February to allocate £51,000 in its 2017-18 budget to bring in seasonal lifeguard cover following demands for safety to be increased at Camber, which can attract up to 25,000 visitors during peak holiday season. |
| Council officials have said the beach, which is 3 miles (4.8km) long and nearly half a mile wide at low tide, can never be completely risk-free, but they are determined to boost safety. | Council officials have said the beach, which is 3 miles (4.8km) long and nearly half a mile wide at low tide, can never be completely risk-free, but they are determined to boost safety. |
| Four lifeguards will patrol central Camber Sands from 10am to 6pm, seven days a week, until the beginning of October. A further two lifeguards will patrol west Camber Sands during the same times from July until September. This year, RNLI lifeguards will work alongside the beach patrol following a formal request from the council. | Four lifeguards will patrol central Camber Sands from 10am to 6pm, seven days a week, until the beginning of October. A further two lifeguards will patrol west Camber Sands during the same times from July until September. This year, RNLI lifeguards will work alongside the beach patrol following a formal request from the council. |
| Pathologist Brett Lockyer concluded that all five men had died as a result of drowning. | Pathologist Brett Lockyer concluded that all five men had died as a result of drowning. |
| The hearing continues. | The hearing continues. |