Boy died after fall off Padstow harbour wall while fishing - inquest

Floral tributes were left at the harbour in Padstow after the death last year

A five-year-old old boy died as a result of an accident after falling from a harbour wall in Padstow, a coroner has concluded.

Benjamin Cullis, from Padstow, had been fishing and crabbing with his family when he fell off the harbour wall and hit his head on the side of a yacht on 24 June 2023.

He was taken to hospital, but died the following day.

The senior coroner for Cornwall said his death was a "tragic" accident.

Emergency surgery

After falling from the harbour wall, Benjamin's father Aidan jumped into the water and lifted him on to a nearby boat where first aid was given by several off-duty medical professionals, Cornwall Coroner's Court heard.

He was taken to Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro by air ambulance before being transferred to Bristol Children's Hospital for emergency surgery.

In a statement read to the court, Mr Cullis said they were sitting on a bench along the edge of the harbour wall when the accident happened.

He said: "They had been there so often, they know the area and are always extremely careful at the end of the harbour.

"Benjamin found my biscuit and raisin Yorkie bar in the snack box and he was laughing, saying: 'I have found your chocolate and I am going to eat it,' which he did.

"He then got up from the bench and walked to the right to put the rubbish in the bin, but he walked too close towards the harbour edge and walked along the edge towards the bin.

"He was holding the wrapper and fell to his left ... I could see him fall."

Life support removed

The court heard that, after speaking with doctors, Mr Cullis and his partner Jenna Rickard made the decision to withdraw ventilation as it was "not fair on Benjamin to continue".

He said: "Benjamin was brought back from surgery and the decision was ours to when life support was removed.

"I looked at Jenna and said: 'It is enough now.' We dressed him in his own pyjamas and read him his favourite bedtime story, The Snail And The Whale.

"Benjamin's breathing tube was removed and he died."

Devon and Cornwall Police investigated the death and treated it as an accident.

A separate investigation by Cornwall Council found the harbour was in "full compliance" with safety regulations.

It said the harbour master erected unguarded edge signage and painted the mooring staples, which "could potentially pose a trip hazard" but were not a contributing factor in the June incident.

'A happy boy'

Senior Coroner Andrew Cox said Padstow had a working harbour and "you can't have a working harbour and fence off the edges", adding there were "no problems" identified in inspections.

"What has just happened here is that Benjamin has missed his footing, he has gone over the edge of the harbour and fallen into the water," he said.

"On another day, he would have fallen in and got soaked and no more than that.

"Tragically, on the way down, he struck his head on the edge of a yacht and suffered a desperately serious head injury."

The inquest in Truro heard Benjamin was in the reception year at St Issey School in Wadebridge, where his father said he was extremely popular.

In his statement to the inquest, Mr Cullis described his son as "such a happy boy".

Mr Cullis added: "Benjamin was crazy about sports, particularly anything with a ball."

Mr Cox recorded a conclusion of accidental death.