Inquest into the Suspected Death of Malcolm Andrew CARPENTER
Deceased
Malcolm Andrew CARPENTER
Demographics
27y, male
Date of death
1975-05-25
Finding date
2020-03-31
Cause of death
Misadventure - drowning following immersion in sea after slipping from rocks
AI-generated summary
Malcolm Andrew Carpenter, aged 27, disappeared while fishing from rocks at Mutton Bird Beach, Albany, Western Australia on 25 May 1975. He slipped into the water and was never recovered. This coronial finding, investigated 45 years later as part of a Long Term Missing Persons Project, established his death beyond reasonable doubt through witness testimony from his surviving brother. Malcolm was not a swimmer and the sea conditions became rough immediately after he entered the water. The coroner found death occurred by misadventure through drowning. This case highlights the importance of documenting witness statements contemporaneously at the scene of incidents, maintaining detailed police records, and recognising hazardous environments such as rock fishing locations where conditions can change rapidly.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Contributing factors
- deceased was not a capable swimmer
- sudden change in sea conditions from calm to rough
- fishing from unstable rocks at water level
- lack of safety equipment or warning signs
- clothing (overalls) may have impeded swimming ability
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