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Sea cadet Jonathan Martin unclipped harness to help friend before fatal fall Sea cadet Jonathan Martin unclipped harness to help friend before fatal fall
(about 1 hour later)
A 14-year-old sea cadet plunged to his death from the rigging of a training ship after removing his safety harness to assist a colleague, an inquest has heard.A 14-year-old sea cadet plunged to his death from the rigging of a training ship after removing his safety harness to assist a colleague, an inquest has heard.
Jonathan Martin was killed when he fell 8m (26ft) from the sailing brig TS Royalist and hit a bin and the side of the ship before landing in the water. He suffered traumatic chest injuries and died in hospital the same day. Jonathan Martin was killed when he fell 8 metres (26ft) from the sailing brig TS Royalist and hit a bin and the side of the ship before landing in the water. He suffered traumatic chest injuries and died in hospital the same day.
The accident happened in calm seas during the cadets' 150th anniversary celebrations, the inquest in Portsmouth was told.The accident happened in calm seas during the cadets' 150th anniversary celebrations, the inquest in Portsmouth was told.
Martin, from Kent, was furling the sails at the end of the day's events while the ship was anchored in Stokes Bay, Hampshire. He unclipped his harness so he could get to a female cadet who was struggling with her section of the sail but lost his footing and fell.Martin, from Kent, was furling the sails at the end of the day's events while the ship was anchored in Stokes Bay, Hampshire. He unclipped his harness so he could get to a female cadet who was struggling with her section of the sail but lost his footing and fell.
Detective Sergeant Nigel Lee, who investigated the accident for Hampshire police, told the inquest that a cadet who was up the mast with Jonathan had shouted at him to clip his harness back on.Detective Sergeant Nigel Lee, who investigated the accident for Hampshire police, told the inquest that a cadet who was up the mast with Jonathan had shouted at him to clip his harness back on.
He said: "Jonathan came towards her and she realised he had unclipped himself. She told him to clip himself back on but he said he was going to help [the girl who was struggling]. She told him she would go because she was closest but he really wanted to.He said: "Jonathan came towards her and she realised he had unclipped himself. She told him to clip himself back on but he said he was going to help [the girl who was struggling]. She told him she would go because she was closest but he really wanted to.
"He tried to move around the back of her and put his foot on a safety line behind them that they stand on. He was in this position for a few seconds when he told her he was slipping. She tried to grab his arm but he fell backwards off the line and somersaulted back towards the deck."He tried to move around the back of her and put his foot on a safety line behind them that they stand on. He was in this position for a few seconds when he told her he was slipping. She tried to grab his arm but he fell backwards off the line and somersaulted back towards the deck.
"She saw him hit the wheelie bin on the deck, then the side of the ship and into the water. Someone shouted 'man overboard' and the safety boat was launched. Some of the cadets were screaming and crying because of what they had seen. Staff tried to comfort them and took them below deck.""She saw him hit the wheelie bin on the deck, then the side of the ship and into the water. Someone shouted 'man overboard' and the safety boat was launched. Some of the cadets were screaming and crying because of what they had seen. Staff tried to comfort them and took them below deck."
Martin's father Andrew told the hearing he had expressed his concerns about his son working at height on a previous trip onboard the vessel. Martin's father Andrew told the hearing he had expressed concerns about his son working at height on a previous trip onboard the vessel.
He said: "Jonathan was a very outgoing, sporty boy. He played for the school rugby team and did all sorts of other sports.He said: "Jonathan was a very outgoing, sporty boy. He played for the school rugby team and did all sorts of other sports.
"He had been a sea cadet for three years and he enjoyed it immensely. He was very confident but took discipline. If he was told to do something he would do it. After his first voyage, I saw photographs of him on the rigging and said 'that looks dangerous'. However, he assured me it was OK and said: 'Don't worry, we are all clipped in with a harness.'""He had been a sea cadet for three years and he enjoyed it immensely. He was very confident but took discipline. If he was told to do something he would do it. After his first voyage, I saw photographs of him on the rigging and said 'that looks dangerous'. However, he assured me it was OK and said: 'Don't worry, we are all clipped in with a harness.'"
The crew had been celebrating the cadet movement's 150th anniversary at a festival in Portsmouth in May 2010.The crew had been celebrating the cadet movement's 150th anniversary at a festival in Portsmouth in May 2010.
A Marine Accident Investigation Branch report read to the court said: "The sea cadet fell to the deck because he unclipped his belt harness ... contrary to his training and onboard procedures for work at that position." A Marine Accident Investigation Branch report read to the court said: "The sea cadet fell to the deck because he unclipped his belt harness … contrary to his training and onboard procedures for work at that position."
The inquest continues.The inquest continues.