Trcka, Peter Joseph

Contributing factors

• Likely acute incapacitation from medical event (seizure, stroke, or cardiovascular event)
• History of seizures related to alcohol withdrawal without documented follow-up or ongoing medication
• Heavy alcohol use (half a carton of beer per day in months prior to death)
• Inadequate deck railing height (below knee level) providing insufficient barrier against falls
• Absence of personal flotation device
• Absence of personal electronic positioning indicating radio beacon
• Working alone on deck
• Calm sea conditions that may have masked the person overboard event

Coroner's recommendations

1. Director of the Division of WH&S and the General Manager MSQ review the operation of the MOU to consider whether changes are needed to encourage more collaboration in responding to incidents that appear to enliven the jurisdiction of both agencies
2. General Manager MSQ review the policies governing the investigation of marine incidents to ensure that incidents involving serious injury and loss of life are properly investigated, and that issues arising from such investigations are responded to in the manner most likely to promote marine safety in Queensland
3. MSQ investigate to identify the most appropriate type of PFD and EPIRB for seamen on commercial fishing vessels and then mandate by regulation that commercial fishermen wear PFDs and carry EPIRBs when on deck at sea