Overview

• On August 4, a sea railing on Gourock promenade gave way while National Grid manager Ben Walsh and his girlfriend posed for a photo, leaving him head-first over a 15-foot drop.
• Walsh was pulled to safety by his parents and two passersby, and the collapse was recorded on his girlfriend’s phone.
• Under its asset management responsibilities, Inverclyde Council has expanded inspection and repair work to all seafront railings in Gourock.
• A formal failure review has been launched to determine the causes of the banister collapse and recommend any necessary follow-up actions.
• Walsh, who works in health and safety, is pressing for broader checks after observing recent welding and spotting similar corrosion at other coastal sites.