Inquest into the Suspected Death of Ian Daniel Arthur GRAY
Deceased
Gray, Ian Daniel Arthur
Demographics
46y, male
Date of death
2022-07-24
Finding date
2026-06-09
Cause of death
Unascertained - likely drowning due to immersion in rough seas
AI-generated summary
Ian Gray, 46, disappeared while boating near Green Head, Western Australia on 24 July 2022. He launched his small aluminium boat from South Bay in rough seas with 4-6 metre swells. His boat was last observed heading out to sea around 11:30 am. Ian sent messages to a friend indicating the conditions were 'very hard work' before ceasing contact at 3:39 pm. After failure to return, an extensive four-day search involving multiple agencies found no trace of him. The coroner found that Ian likely drowned when his boat capsized or became submerged in rough seas, based on debris consistent with his vessel found in subsequent months. Contributing factors included Ian's poor swimming ability, failure to wear his life jacket, lack of personal locator beacon, and unfavourable weather. The coroner emphasised the critical importance of wearing safety equipment and carrying devices like personal locator beacons when boating.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Contributing factors
- Rough sea conditions with 4-6 metre swells
- Poor swimming ability
- Did not wear life jacket despite carrying one
- Small boat vulnerable to being overwhelmed by waves
- Engine trouble on boat
- Did not carry personal locator beacon (PLB/EPIRB)
- Cold water temperature (18-20°C)
- Unfavourable and difficult weather conditions
Coroner's recommendations
- Importance of wearing life jackets when boating, not just carrying them
- All boaters should consider carrying personal locator beacons (PLBs) or emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs)
- GPS locators and marine radios should be considered when heading out on the water
- Proper safety preparation is essential before heading out onto the water
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