A devastating accident on a boat trip off the coast of North Devon left a woman paralyzed from the waist down after she was thrown from her seat during rough sea conditions.
On 7 June 2023, twelve passengers set out from Ilfracombe aboard the Lundy Explorer, a rigid inflatable boat (RIB). Shortly after departure, unexpected worsening weather caused choppy seas with wave heights beyond what the skipper had anticipated. As the boat hit one large wave and then slammed into another, the woman, seated in a jockey seat at the front of the vessel, was violently ejected.
Jockey seats are saddle-style seats with backrests located in the front of RIBs. Passengers brace themselves with their legs in these seats during rough navigation, but the position exposes them to the highest shock forces when waves impact the boat. In this case, the woman suffered a fractured spinal column, resulting in permanent paralysis from the waist down.
READ MORE: Katie Price Finds Peace Amid Public Dispute with Ex-Husband Peter Andre
READ MORE: Live Updates: M5 Traffic Disruptions Due to Crashes and Holiday Volume
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), which conducted an inquiry into the incident, found critical safety shortcomings. Passengers had not been adequately briefed on the risks associated with using jockey seats, and the seats’ placement exposed them to dangerous shock loads. The absence of a formal safety management system and incomplete operational procedures further increased risk.
In response, the MAIB issued recommendations to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Ilfracombe Sea Safari Limited. These include developing a code of practice to reduce seating of passengers in the boat’s forward third section, implementing comprehensive safety management and risk assessment protocols, and installing sensors to monitor real-time forces acting on the boat’s front section.
Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents Andrew Moll emphasized the severity of the incident: “Even at slow speeds within harbour areas, significant injuries can happen on RIB rides due to unsuitable seating arrangements. This tragic accident highlights an ongoing safety issue within commercial high-speed boat operations.”
He urged operators to review seating layouts, enhance safety briefings, and carry out detailed risk assessments, reminding the industry that established guidance is readily available and must be utilized to prevent future tragedies.