Felixstowe: Coroner issues warning after mobility scooter fall

A coroner said he feared "future loss of life" may happen

The death of a man whose mobility scooter drove off a beach promenade while he was asleep has led a coroner to warn of a risk of future deaths.

John Gray, 76, fell several feet from the promenade at Felixstowe, where there was no barrier, on 9 July 2022, and died four days later.

Suffolk Coroner Nigel Parsley raised several areas of concern in a prevention of future deaths report.

East Suffolk Council said it continually assessed risk.

Expert evidence during the inquest suggested falling asleep on mobility scooters "happened more frequently than the general public might think", often leading to accidents, Mr Parsley said in his report.

Mr Gray suffered multiple rib fractures leading to respiratory failure and died in Ipswich Hospital, the coroner said.

The inquest heard the drop from the edge of the promenade to the sand where Mr Gray fell was about 5ft (1.52m).

The height of drops at various points on the promenade could change significantly and quickly due to "unusual" high tide and weather changes.

'High risk' locations

A system was in place to monitor any changes.

Barriers at "high risk" locations, including long drops and drops on to concrete were in place, the inquest heard, and signs or other markings were in place elsewhere to highlight risks.

Mr Parsley said it had been noted people on mobility scooters regularly used the promenade and that, "due to the demographics of the local area", this may increase in the future.

"I am therefore concerned that falls from the promenade on to the beach, in areas where there is no barrier, would occur again in similar circumstances, as the current signage and markings provide no warning to an individual asleep on their mobility scooter," he wrote.

"If this were to occur (as in this case) in an area where the height of drop from the edge of the promenade to the sand was greater than normally expected, I am concerned this would lead to future loss of life."

A spokesman for East Suffolk Council said: "We continually review all risk assessments for land which the council is responsible for, and we are identifying what further appropriate measures should be put in place to help ensure the safety of all users of the promenade."