Deceased
Geoffrey Stuart McInnes
Demographics
71y, male
Date of death
2015-10-09
Finding date
2017-06-07
Cause of death
Drowning
AI-generated summary
Geoffrey McInnes, 71-year-old experienced fisherman with history of ischaemic heart disease and prior coronary artery bypass grafting, drowned while fishing in a boat off Warrnambool. The vessel capsized in hazardous sea conditions (2-3 metre swells) near La Bella Reef despite a forecast of 1 metre waves. Neither occupant wore a personal flotation device (PFD), though neither was legally required to do so under current regulations. An overfilled fuel tank may have restricted engine fuel flow. The coroner found that PFD wearing would have enhanced survival chances, and identified gaps in maritime safety: inadequate reef hazard marking, boaters' misunderstanding of 'heightened risk' definitions, and insufficient regulatory requirements for PFD use in dangerous reef areas. Recommendations focused on reef safety markings, educational campaigns, and review of PFD legislation.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Error types
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