Coroner Warns of Future Deaths after Mobility Scooter User Dies Falling Off Promenade

The lack of barriers and warning signs at Felixstowe beach promenade, coupled with the common occurrence of users falling asleep, raises safety concerns.

• John Gray, a mobility scooter user, died after falling asleep and driving off a seafront promenade at Felixstowe beach in Suffolk, resulting in multiple rib fractures and subsequent respiratory failure.
• Suffolk’s senior coroner, Nigel Parsley, has issued a warning about potential future deaths due to the lack of a barrier or warning signs at the promenade.
• The coroner's report highlighted that falling asleep while using a mobility scooter is not uncommon and happens more frequently than the general public might think.
• The height from the edge of the promenade to the sand is prone to change due to factors such as high tide conditions or weather activity, which can significantly increase the drop height in a short period of time.
• East Suffolk Council, responsible for the area, must respond to the coroner's report by March 15, and is currently identifying further appropriate measures to ensure the safety of all users of the promenade.

3 Articles

The Telegraph The Guardian Sky News