Shock Mitigation Directory

Ejection of 6 People from RHIB - 2 Fatalities

03.02.2014

On 5 May 2013, all six occupants of the 8.0m rigid inflatable boat 'Milly' were ejected from the boat into the water as it was making a turn.

The engine cut-out ‘kill cord’ mechanism was not activated as it had not been attached to the driver. Consequently, the boat continued to circle with no-one at the helm, at full power, striking some of those in the water, fatally injuring two and seriously injuring two others.

On the day of the accident Milly’s owner, his wife and their four children were using the boat for the first time in 2013. The family group consisted of Mr and Mrs Milligan and their four children aged 4, 8, 11 and 12 years.

At 1200 the family arrived at Rock to board Milly for a pleasure trip on the Camel Estuary, Cornwall. During the afternoon, just prior to returning to the mooring, the adults changed over at the helm but the kill cord was not attached to the new driver.

A short time later, the adult who was no longer controlling the boat reached across in front of the driver and operated the helm and engine controls to execute a tighter, high-powered turn, and the accident followed almost immediately. 

Accident Investigation Report 5/2014 - Published 30 January 2014

The key safety issues identified were:

• A kill cord was not attached to the driver at the time of the accident.

• The drivers were unprepared for the boat’s reaction when it was turned at speed and then “hooked” as they did not have the level of boat handling skills required to control such a turn.

• Trials undertaken on the boat found that it developed a high angle of heel when turned at high speeds.

• Occupants should be seated, holding on and as far aft as possible when boats are travelling at speed.

There are many lessons to be learned from this tragic incident.

View detailed MAIB accident report PDF below:

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MAIB Report on RIB Milly - Camel Estuary, Cornwall - 5 May 2013