Father accuses council of failing drowned son

Aug 13 2008 by Dan Warburton, Journal

A FATHER has called for legal action after his teenage son drowned when he was swept from the sea off the Wearside coast and battered against nearby rocks.

Schoolboy Mark Langton, of Canon Cockin Street, Hendon, was only 13 when he waded into the sea near Hendon Beach, Sunderland, and was swept off his feet by 8ft waves.

His friends frantically tried to rescue him but could only watch as he shouted for help and was thrown against rocks on April 10, 2006.

At an inquest yesterday, Mark’s father, also called Mark, heard the youngster was pronounced dead after he was airlifted to Sunderland Royal Hospital.

Sunderland City Council had removed rescue buoys and lifeline throw bags from the site because vandalism and theft had stretched resources past their capacity.

A council representative claimed the site was not suitable for lifelines or buoys and claimed it was not an area meant for swimming.

But the coroner said additional safety measures could have given Mark a chance of being rescued.

And speaking during the hearing at Houghton-le- Spring Magistrates’ Court, father Mark, from Hendon, Sunderland, said his son would be alive “if the council had done their jobs” and that they should account for their failure to ensure public safety.

He added: “Two years before my son died, there were two little girls that drowned, and since his death another man has died.

“How many more people have to die before more is done to protect people there?” Speaking after the inquest, he said: “I’m very bitter about the whole thing. I think someone should sue the council and get them to get up and take notice.”

As well as recommending that the council’s water safety programme be extended to educate secondary school pupils, coroner Karin Welsh said that barriers and safety equipment may have saved the youngster’s life.

She said: “Mark entered the sea of his own volition despite the conditions being dangerous and being discouraged by his friends – but such is the bravado of youth.

“The council has obligations to ensure public safety. While the use of lifelines is potentially ineffective, is this a reason to disregard their use?

“Vandalism and theft are very real problems, but the council carry out weekly inspections and they could have saved a life.

“Barriers, too, have a potential impact on rescue missions to reach the beach, but they may cause someone to think twice about their actions when entering the beach.

“I have made some robust comments about the safety equipment, but I cannot be satisfied that had it been better, Mark would have lived.

“It might have helped, but that would be poor conjecture.”

Peter Mooney, from Sunderland City Council, was at the hearing and said the location was not suited to lifelines and throw buoys because of the huge rock armour that went around the site.

He said the beach was not intended for swimming but the council would consider installing additional safety equipment when it met in September.

Verdict: Accident.