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| Morocco trek boy Samuel Boon's parents criticise World Challenge | Morocco trek boy Samuel Boon's parents criticise World Challenge |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The parents of a teenager who died on a Morocco trekking trip have criticised the trip's organisers after an inquest found he died by misadventure. | The parents of a teenager who died on a Morocco trekking trip have criticised the trip's organisers after an inquest found he died by misadventure. |
| Ken Boon, father of Samuel, 17, said he would not have allowed him to go on the trip if they had known the poor arrangements for emergency care. | Ken Boon, father of Samuel, 17, said he would not have allowed him to go on the trip if they had known the poor arrangements for emergency care. |
| Samuel collapsed on the July 2012 trip as temperatures soared to 40C (104F). | Samuel collapsed on the July 2012 trip as temperatures soared to 40C (104F). |
| World Challenge, which organised the trip, said it had put new safety measures in place since his death. | World Challenge, which organised the trip, said it had put new safety measures in place since his death. |
| The inquest at Bromley Civic Centre returned a verdict of death by misadventure. | The inquest at Bromley Civic Centre returned a verdict of death by misadventure. |
| The World Challenge trip was due to last 14 days and included a six-day trek to Amezmiz in the High Atlas foothills. | The World Challenge trip was due to last 14 days and included a six-day trek to Amezmiz in the High Atlas foothills. |
| Following the verdict Mr Boon said: "If we had known that in an emergency there would have been no helicopter, no ambulance, no medic, in fact the best emergency response available was a minibus with no medical assistance, we would never have allowed Sam to go. | |
| "In fact I don't think there is any school in the country that would go." | "In fact I don't think there is any school in the country that would go." |
| World Challenge managing director Matt Eastlake said: "Samuel Boon's death was an absolute tragedy and our deepest sympathies remain with his family and friends. | World Challenge managing director Matt Eastlake said: "Samuel Boon's death was an absolute tragedy and our deepest sympathies remain with his family and friends. |
| 'Improve safety' | 'Improve safety' |
| "World Challenge's highest priority is the safety of its participants and as the coroner noted, we have introduced a number of new measures since Samuel's death, especially in terms of monitoring participant fitness. | "World Challenge's highest priority is the safety of its participants and as the coroner noted, we have introduced a number of new measures since Samuel's death, especially in terms of monitoring participant fitness. |
| "We will take time to reflect on the coroner's findings and give serious consideration to any change or development where we feel appropriate which will improve safety further." | "We will take time to reflect on the coroner's findings and give serious consideration to any change or development where we feel appropriate which will improve safety further." |
| After Samuel collapsed, a local guide was asked to get an ambulance but it was more than an hour later that a minibus arrived at a nearby road to transport the teenager to a local medical centre, the inquest was told. | After Samuel collapsed, a local guide was asked to get an ambulance but it was more than an hour later that a minibus arrived at a nearby road to transport the teenager to a local medical centre, the inquest was told. |
| "Plans for evacuation relied almost entirely upon local agents to find and obtain appropriate facilities," Selena Lynch, the assistant coroner for south London, said. | "Plans for evacuation relied almost entirely upon local agents to find and obtain appropriate facilities," Selena Lynch, the assistant coroner for south London, said. |
| "They were appointed without their qualifications being checked or references obtained, and were not given any formal training. | |
| "There were no arrangements in place for an ambulance with medical equipment and/or personnel to be provided in an emergency, and the facilities at local medical centres had not been assessed." | "There were no arrangements in place for an ambulance with medical equipment and/or personnel to be provided in an emergency, and the facilities at local medical centres had not been assessed." |