Boy, 5, died when he fell into popular tourist harbour – just moments after dad’s fateful words
A BOY, 5, has died when he fell into a popular tourist harbour – just moments after his dad’s fateful words.
Benjamin Cullis died after hitting his head on the side of a yacht in the incident at the Exeter Padstow Harbour in Cornwall last year.
The school boy was on a “typical family day out” when he tragically fell into the popular tourist harbour, an inquest has heard.
Cornwall Coroner’s Court heard that the five-year-old was fishing and crabbing with his father and brother before the incident on the morning of June 24.
In a statement read to the court, his father, Aidan Cullis, said they were sitting on a bench along the edge of the harbour wall when the incident happened.
He said: “There was an older woman sat on the bench as well and she commented on how polite they were but also how close they were to the edge.
“I then said the fateful words of, ‘They are always so careful at the edge’, which they are. They had been there so often they know the area and are always extremely careful at the end of the harbour.”
But tragedy struck the loving family when Benjamin tried to take a Yorkie chocolate bar wrapper to the bin.
The devastated dad added: “He was holding the wrapper and fell to his left. I did not see his feet or see where he was looking, I could see him fall.
“He let out a little scream and summersaulted in the air down and his back hit the wire railing of a sailing boat that was moored against the harbour wall.
“Benjamin bounced off and somersaulted again into the water. I don’t recall hearing him hit the boat but did hear a splash as he hit the water between the boat and the harbour wall.
“Benjamin was face down in the water.”
Mr Cullis, jumped into the harbour and lifted his already unconscious son on to a nearby boat.
Benjamin was then airlifted to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro where doctors claimed he had suffered a “very severe” head injury.
After being transferred to Bristol Children’s Hospital for emergency surgery he died the following day.
The court heard that after speaking with doctors, Mr Cullis and his partner Jenna Rickard made the decision to withdraw ventilation.
Mr Cullis said: “We made the decision it was not fair on Benjamin to continue.
“Benjamin was brought back from surgery and the decision was ours to when life support was removed.”
Devon and Cornwall Police determined Benjamin’s death was as an accident.
An investigation by Cornwall Council found the harbour was in “full compliance” with the Health and Safety Executive code of practice for harbours.
A council report said: “No defects were found and there have been no previous incidents recorded of people falling into the harbour unintentionally.
“Since the incident the harbour master and his team have erected unguarded edge signage and painted the mooring staples which could potentially pose a trip hazard to members of the public.
“This was not a causation factor in this incident.”