Man died after he fell asleep and by accident drove mobility scooter

A mobility scooter consumer died after he fell asleep and drove off a seafront promenade with out a barrier.

John Gray suffered a number of rib fractures after his mobility scooter drove off the promenade at Felixstowe seashore in Suffolk, with a drop of ‘a number of toes’ onto the sand under.

This led to respiratory failure and his dying at Ipswich Hospital on July 13 2022, 4 days after he was admitted on July 9.

Suffolk’s senior coroner Nigel Parsley has written to the native council, East Suffolk Council, along with his issues that there may very well be comparable falls in future with out a barrier or warning indicators in place.

An earlier inquest concluded that Mr Gray’s dying was an accident.

The coroner wrote, in a prevention of future deaths report revealed this month, that Mr Gray died ‘after his mobility scooter drove off the promenade at Felixstowe seashore, after John had fallen asleep’.

John Gray died after his mobility scooter drove off the promenade on Felixstowe seashore in Suffolk, which had no obstacles, an inquest heard (file photograph)

A coroner has warned East Suffolk council that comparable incidents might happen in future with out a barrier in place on the promenade (file photograph)

‘At the situation this occurred, there was no barrier in place to stop a fall, and the drop was considered one of a number of toes,’ he stated.

‘In his fall, John suffered a number of rib fractures resulting in respiratory failure.’

Mr Parsley stated proof was heard on the inquest that the ‘peak of drop from the sting of the promenade to the sand on the location Mr Gray fell, while on his mobility scooter, was roughly 5 toes’.

‘The courtroom was instructed that, at quite a lot of areas, the peak from the sting of the promenade to the sand was inclined to vary, and a system was in place to observe this,’ he stated.

‘It was nonetheless, acknowledged, that uncommon excessive tide situations, and/or climate exercise might considerably change the drop peak in a brief time period.

‘Evidence heard that at high-risk areas, comparable to areas with persistent lengthy drops, drops onto concrete, or drops onto rock sea defences, everlasting obstacles had been put in.

‘In different areas signage and/or painted markings had been used to focus on the dangers of a possible fall.

‘It was acknowledged that people on mobility scooters had been identified to commonly entry and use the promenade.

‘Due to the demographics of the native space it was acknowledged that using mobility scooters on the promenade might enhance sooner or later.

‘Evidence was additionally heard from a mobility scooter provider and engineer, who defined that falling asleep on a mobility scooter was not unusual, and occurred extra ceaselessly than most of the people may suppose.

The mobility scooter provider instructed the inquest that falling asleep whereas driving the tools was a extra widespread occurance than the general public may suppose (file photograph)

‘The provider defined that this typically led to accidents, main to wreck to the mobility scooters, which required restore.

‘I’m subsequently involved that falls from the promenade onto the seashore, in areas the place there isn’t a barrier, would happen once more in comparable circumstances, as the present signage and markings present no warning to a person asleep on their mobility scooter.

‘If this had been to happen (as on this case) in an space the place the peak of drop from the sting of the promenade to the sand was higher than usually anticipated, I’m involved this could result in future lack of life.’

East Suffolk Council should reply to the report by March 15.

The authority has been approached for remark.