The son of Caitríona Lucas says the lessons to be learned by the Irish Coast Guard following his mother’s death cannot be allowed to fall on deaf ears.
The inquest of Ms. Lucas, who was the first Coast Guard volunteer to lose her life during a tasking returned a verdict of misadventure last week, following a wait of over seven years for the family.
At Kilmallock court last week, the jury of four men and three women returned a verdict of misadeventure to Limerick Coroner John McNamara, who made seven recommendations in relation to safety management, training and equipment used by the Irish Coast Guard.
41-year-old advanced coxswain, Catriona Lucas, an experienced member of Doolin Coast Guard and mother of two, died after the Kilkee Coast Guard Delta rigid inflatable boat she was crewing capsized during a search for a missing man on September 12, 2016.
The Inquest heard that the Kilkee RIB was struck by successive waves, resulting in all three crew members losing their helmets.
The inquest was also told how Ms.Lucas’s dry-suit had filled up with water, while drone footage would show that she remained conscious in the water for seventeen minutes after the Kilkee RIB capsized.
The court also heard that during this window, a second RIB owned by the Kilkee unit could have reached the area to effect a rescue of all three on board within 10 minutes.’
Caitríona’s son, Ben Lucas says while it was difficult to hear his mother could have been resuced, the recommendations made to the Coast Guard must be implemented and cannot be allowed to fall on deaf ears.
The Irish Coast Guard has accepted the findings and says it will take time to reflect on the recommendations made, while also stating that it’s working to implement directions arising from two previous investigations into her death.
Among the recommendations was an appropriate centralised safety management portal to allow volunteers to identify risk issues on a confidential basis.
Caitríona’s husband and former Doolin Coast Guard member, Bernard Lucas says while he’s not happy with the verdict of misadventure, he believes the core problems of the Coast Guard must be addressed and volunteers protected.
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