Cornish fisherman was killed by falling beam, investigation finds
A fisherman died at sea off the Cornish coast after a beam fell and struck him, an investigation has found.Leigh Spencer, 49, died on 6 February 2021 on fishing vessel The Cornishman about 44 nautical miles (81km) off the Isles of Scilly, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch said.Its investigation found the port trawl beam had been hoisted to facilitate a repair to the fishing gear but "fell and struck him".The report said: "It was found that a chain that was part of the trawl beam's quick-release gear had failed, causing the beam to fall."
The report also highlighted several safety issues including risk assessments not being followed and ineffective mitigations, which put the crew at risk while working under a suspended load.The chain type was also found to be "unsuited to marine operations", as salt water caused environmental cracking.It also found the supplied chain had been unsuccessfully tempered during manufacture, which resulted in a high level of hardness and low ductility.The installation of the chain caused it to be led over a fixed pin, which introduced bending stresses to the chain links that were affected by corrosion and cracking, the investigation found.
Recommendations given
The report said the Maritime and Coastguard Agency had been recommended to update the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment) Regulations 2006 guidance to state training and accreditation requirements of people inspecting lifting equipment.Investigators also recommended updating training and guidance given to surveyors to improve their ability to check compliance with the regulations.It was recommended the owners of The Cornishman, W. Stevenson & Sons Limited, ensure compliance with the lifting equipment regulations by reviewing and updating risk assessments, as well as confirming with chain suppliers the selected chains were suitable for their intended use.The manufacturer of the beam's chain, Capital Group FASING S.A, Poland, was recommended to review and amend its chain quenching and tempering process.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times
21 minutes ago
- Times
Fast Show star ‘distraught' after antisemitic post from stolen phone
A star of The Fast Show, the 1990s TV comedy sketch show, is said to be 'distraught' after his social media accounts were hacked and used to post an antisemitic message. Simon Day's Facebook, Instagram and X accounts were used to post a picture of the comedian and film director Mel Brooks along with a slur about Jewish people. It said: 'Not all Jewz are c***s. More political insight tomorrow'. The posts were quickly deleted and an apology sent. 'Please ignore my last post,' Day, 63, said. 'Last post someone hacked my phone. Would like to apologise for any offence. I am investigating.' Tracy-Ann Oberman, an actress who was awarded an MBE for services to Holocaust education and countering antisemitism, welcomed the apology. 'Good of him to elaborate on this heinous post with its near 100 likes on Insta,' she said. Oberman had initially spotted the message on Day's social media accounts and responded with some concern. 'Either Simon has been hacked or he thinks this is acceptable for a high-profile entertainment comedian to post this Jew hate,' she wrote. 'Hero to zero. It's on Simon's Instagram and Facebook, just not on Twitter.' Charlie Higson, Day's co-star on The Fast Show, leapt to his defence after criticism from other users on social media. 'His phone and credit cards were stolen. Simon would never post anything like this. He's distraught and not sure how to handle it,' Higson said. He added: 'Of course it's true [that he was robbed and hacked]. Simon's not going to completely change his character overnight.' The pair worked together on the BBC sketch show, which spawned characters including Ted and Ralph, the Suits You tailors and Competitive Dad, for four series from 1994. Last month a report found that a rise in antisemitic disinformation was contributing to hostility towards Jews on university campuses. The study by the Henry Jackson Society, a British national security think tank, claimed that anti-Jewish narratives were 'flourishing unchecked'. Students reported an increase in antisemitic disinformation after the atrocity on October 7, 2023, in which Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Social media was named as the main source of the disinformation.
BBC News
39 minutes ago
- BBC News
Leicester rapist jail time added after woman gives evidence again
A rapist has been given an extended jail term thanks in part to one of his victims giving evidence against him for a second Crown Prosecution (CPS) said Randy Ayor, 22, physically, sexually and emotionally abused three women after starting relationships with them while meeting them through was found not guilty of rape against the first accuser earlier this year but Leicester Crown Court heard he abused two further women within weeks of the verdict and she was invited to give evidence being convicted of rape and assault against the second and third women in April he was sentenced on Thursday to 22 years in prison plus a three-year extension. The CPS said the first woman described how Ayor, from Leicester, became friendly towards her, helping her with car issues over a weekend but tricked her into coming back to his flat after a night out with friends. She made an allegation of rape and assault but Ayor was acquitted by a within weeks of the acquittal, Ayor attacked two further women, switching abruptly from "being charming and caring, to being violent".The CPS said he continued his emotional abuse by controlling what they wore, who they spoke to and refusing to let them get away from him. Ayor was brought before court for a second time and stood trial in April. 'True manipulator' Although Ayor had been acquitted of the rape of the first woman, she was able to give her account to a jury again, this time as bad character evidence, as her allegations were so similar to the others, the CPS allegations she made could not be the subject of further charges, due to there being no new evidence in her case, but the testimony she gave at the trial showed a "similar pattern of behaviour, which strengthened the prosecution's case" against Ayor. The CPS said it must apply to the court to use bad character evidence and demonstrate it is relevant to the case and still consistent with giving the defendant a fair trial. After his trial in April, a jury found Ayor guilty of five counts of rape, one count of assault by penetration and one count of strangulation against the second was also convicted of one count of rape, one count of false imprisonment, two counts of actual bodily harm, one count of assault by beating and one count of controlling or coercive behaviour against the third woman, with Ayor pleading guilty to one count of strangulation against Caulton-Scott, from the CPS, said: "Despite still being traumatised from their experiences, Ayor's victims persevered in giving evidence, revealing Ayor as the manipulator he truly is."Although Ayor was acquitted of crimes against her, the extraordinary resolve of the first complainant to give evidence in this trial, contributed to him facing the consequences of his abhorrent crimes."
Daily Mail
40 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Des O'Connor's daughter says police 'cannot be trusted with women's safety' after decision not to sack officer who called her 'amazingly hot' and sexually harassed her while investigating her mugging
The daughter of Des O'Connor said police 'cannot be trusted with women's safety' after a police officer was not sacked for calling her 'amazingly hot' and sexually harassing her while investigating her mugging. Former Metropolitan Police detective chief inspector James Mason was given a final written warning by the panel in October 2021 for calling Kristina O'Connor, 37, his 'favourite Camden victim of crime ' and asking her out after she was injured in an attempted robbery in October 2011. A police misconduct panel previously found that Mr Mason, 47, used his authority to sexually harass her and that his behaviour amounted to gross misconduct, but ruled that it would have been 'disproportionately harsh' to sack him or reduce his rank. Mr Mason subsequently resigned from the force in 2022. The same panel reconvened on Thursday at Sutton police station to hear legal representations. In 2011, after being bruised and given a black eye during an attempted robbery, Ms O'Connor reported the attack and was taken to Kentish Town police station, a court heard. While taking down her statement, Mr Mason, then a detective sergeant, asked if he could take her out for dinner that evening. He then emailed her the next day asking her out for a drink and told her that despite her injuries: 'I am sure you still looking amazingly hot.' When she asked him to stop, Mr Mason wrote: 'Coming on to victims is positively encouraged, it's all part of the friendly and accessible face of the Met Police. It's the rejection that is frowned upon.' Ms O'Connor, who was 24 at the time of the incident, was unsuccessful in a 2023 High Court legal challenge against the panel's decision after alleging Mr Mason's actions were 'predatory and abusive', and the police had 'failed to properly investigate' a complaint. She appealed against the High Court ruling at a hearing in December last year, with the Court of Appeal ruling in January that the panel should reconsider its decision. Ms O'Connor, whose late father was a comedian, singer and television presenter, said she wanted to 'encourage women to continue to speak out, if they feel able to'. In a statement issued by Bindmans law firm, Ms O'Connor said: 'Regardless of the panel's decision, my experience has taught me that the police cannot be trusted with women's safety. 'I was abused by a police officer who should have been helping me. Since reporting his behaviour I have seen first-hand how the police were more interested in protecting themselves than helping me find justice, or protecting other women. 'I have spent many years questioning whether the policing system can be fixed and have come to the conclusion that if we are serious about women's safety, it needs replacing entirely.' David Messling, representing the Metropolitan Police at Thursday's hearing, said Mr Mason's conduct harmed 'public trust in policing'. Mr Messling told the panel: 'It was conduct that continued despite the victim challenging it and the officer indicating that he was fully aware the conduct was improper. 'This was an example of a police officer who was looking to take sexual advantage, by means of his position, of a vulnerable victim of crime. 'It goes to the heart of public trust and confidence in the police. We all understand the need to be on guard against crime, but victims of crime should not have to be on their guard against police officers.' Mitigating for Mr Mason, Ailsa Williamson said his conduct was 'not planned' and was 'limited to a period of two successive days'. Ms Williamson told the panel: 'While Mr Mason did not intend any harm to Ms O'Connor, he should have anticipated his attempts to pursue her could have impacted her trust in police officers. 'The harassment does not involve any physical contact and does not persist beyond those two days.' Discussing Mr Mason, Ms Williamson added: 'From the outset he's always accepted that his actions were inappropriate and unprofessional, and he continues to offer his unreserved apology to Ms O'Connor. 'He deeply recognises and regrets the harm caused to Ms O'Connor, the reputation of the Metropolitan Police Service and to those closest to him affected by these proceedings.' Ms O'Connor made a complaint against the Metropolitan Police in 2020 after a Facebook memory showed her the original emails, before taking legal action against the panel's decision. Nancy Collins, who is representing Ms O'Connor, said: 'Kristina has been extraordinarily brave in her tireless pursuit for justice. 'She chose to waive her anonymity and fight to challenge the outcome of a complaints process that failed to reflect the gravity of the experience she suffered through the serious misconduct of an officer in whom she had placed her trust. 'She has exposed the failures of the system. It is imperative that those who abuse positions of power are properly held to account and that the gravity of their actions is accurately reflected in any penalty awarded.'
