A passenger onboard a sea safari trip in Devon has been left paralysed after being hurled from the boat’s “suicide” seat. A new report has revealed that the rigid inflatable boat (RIB) collided with a high wave off the Devon coast in June 2023 resulting in the woman, who has not been named, being hurled forward. She was sitting in the jockey seat of the boat alone, the report states, which are often referred to as “suicide” seats due to comfort issues.
Shortly after being thrown out of the Lundy Explorer RIB’s seat, the woman told the deckhand that “she could not feel her legs”. She was then swiftly flown to a hospital in Plymouth where she received treatment. Following the incident, an investigation was opened by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB). Their findings cononcluded there were several safety issues with the Sea Safari trip that led to the women’s paralysis.
Firstly, the jocket seat where she was sat was meant for two passengers, yet the woman was sitting alone. This meant she was exposed to a “high shock load” as the RIB crashed into the powerful waves.
It added that passengers seated in the front third of a RIB’s length were exposed to a higher risk of lower back injuries than those seated towards the back of the boat.
The investigation also discovered the pre-departuture safety briefiing did not adequatley inform passengers of the use of the seats and that those onboard were unaware of the boat’s risks.
The report also states that the skipper was ill-prepared to deal with the increased wave heights after the weather conditions that day took a turn.
Since 2001, the MAIB has been alerted of 54 accidents during a RIB trip which have resulted in lower back injuries, inlcuding 17 spinal fractures.
The report said: “Several operators, manufacturers and skippers were consulted during this investigation, and all acknowledged that the front seats of a RIB could present comfort issues, often referring to them as ‘kamikaze’ or ‘suicide’ seats.”
After the tragic incident, the MAIB is recommended for the Ilfracombe Sea Safari to install sensors going forward. They added that safety management should be implemented prior to any trip out to sea, including what to do if conditions change.
The company has been under new management for two years and said it implemented all safety guidance set out in the report, including the installation of shock sensors.
A spokesperson for the company said: “We operate to the highest standards and go above and beyond to ensure all our passengers and crew are safe.”
