A young crew member fell off a ladder on board a fishing vessel fracturing his upper neck causing cardiac arrest and instant death, an inquest has heard.
Des, his brother Mark and other crew members had been fishing at the Porcupine Bank off the southwest coast of Ireland when the accident occurred.
The Fatal Incident
Mark Hurley, who is a brother of the deceased, said that he asked Desmond to take over at the wheelhouse at close to midnight on December 13th, 2023. Desmond went down stairs to change his jumper.
Mark went looking for his brother when he didn’t come back up from accommodation deck in a matter of minutes. He went looking for Des in the accommodation deck. He saw his brother lying on the floor. He and another crew member administered CPR but to no avail.
Mark, in his role as Skipper, instructed the crew to haul in their nets so that they could return to shore.
A Difficult Journey Home
Poignantly, the inquest heard that the crew members didn’t want to leave Des lying on the floor as they made the journey back to Castletownbere, Co Cork. They made a decision to lift him to his bunk bed to give him dignity in death.
Sgt Stephen O’Sullivan who was on duty at Castletownbere Garda station on December 14th of last year said that they were informed that a death had occurred at sea. The fishing vessel returned to Castletownbere that evening.
He said that having accessed the scene his opinion was that Des probably slipped on a step as he made his way back up the timber stairs of the accommodation deck having retrieved his jumper. He stated that Des possibly hit his head off the door frame of the room.
Medical Examination
Dr Margaret Bolster carried out a postmortem on the body of Mr Hurley at the morgue in Cork City. She said that Des sustained a fracture of the upper neck bone. She stated that injuries of this type can lead to cardiac arrest.
Dr Bolster reassured family members of the deceased that death would have occurred “very quickly”. She indicated that the injury had caused Des’s heart to stop.
Coroner’s Conclusion
In conclusion, the Coroner Frank O’Connell noted that there was “strong circumstantial evidence” that Des lost his footing on the ladder, sustained a neck injury and suffered cardio respiratory failure. He offered his heartfelt condolences to the Hurley family and said that the death had occurred as a result of “extreme bad luck.”
The inquest heard that the incident was a tragic accident, and the crew members of the fishing vessel were praised for their efforts to save Des’s life. The incident highlights the dangers of working at sea, and the importance of safety procedures. The Hurley family has asked for privacy at this difficult time.
A Heartbreaking Loss
The death of Des Hurley is a tragic reminder of the dangers that fishermen face every day. It is a reminder that even the most experienced fishermen are vulnerable to accidents, and that even a seemingly minor incident can have devastating consequences. The fishing community has been shaken by the loss of Des Hurley, a young man with a bright future ahead of him.
The incident has sparked a renewed focus on safety in the Irish fishing industry. There is a renewed commitment to promoting safer working practices and to investing in safety equipment. The Irish fishing industry is a vital part of the Irish economy and a way of life for many communities. The industry is committed to ensuring the safety of its fishermen and to preventing future tragedies.
