Finding into death of Dale Graham Russ

26y · Male·Upper cervical spinal cord injury

A 26-year-old man suffered an upper cervical spinal cord injury (C2 fracture with vertebral artery dissection) after diving head-first from Brooks Jetty into shallow water on New Year's Day 2008. He was transferred to ICU where he required mechanical ventilation. After being informed of his dire prognosis (permanent ventilator dependence and institutional care), and after psychiatric assessment confirmed his decision-making capacity, he consistently requested cessation of ventilatory support. Medical staff withdrew mechanical ventilation, and he died on 9 January 2008. The coroner found the signage at the jetty inadequate, noting that as of 1 January 2008 there were only two signs, both poorly positioned and one defaced by vandalism. The case highlights the importance of clear, visible safety signage at public aquatic structures to convey specific hazards.