Coroner's Finding: Russell, Allan Geoffrey

72y · Male·drowning

Allan Geoffrey Russell, 72, a non-swimming deckhand, drowned after a tender dinghy capsized while operating independently from a larger abalone fishing vessel. He was not wearing a lifejacket when found in water aged 14°C despite legal requirement. The employer (single diver, one-person company) made informal assumptions about Russell's swimming ability without verification, did not ensure proper lifejacket servicing, and relied on ineffective verbal safety instructions. The dinghy was seaworthy despite minor defects. Critical failings were inadequate employment screening and informal safety practices in small commercial fishing operations. Key clinical lessons: importance of lifejacket wear in cold water immersion, cold shock physiology, and supervisor responsibility for verifying worker capabilities before deployment in hazardous remote work.