Intervention Case Study: Clacton Pier
Feb 25, 2023OPINION
The following intervention case study has been published to benefit beach risk assessor learning and development and provides a summary of incidents between 2018-2022 in and around Clacton Pier.
Summary
At least 11 people between 2018-2022 have required rescue intervention around Clacton Pier in the last five years. One further incident was identified, resulting from a medical emergency unrelated to the pier. The incident loci are typically proximate to the pier and involve groups of swimmers aged 14-21 years. There appears to be a cultural norm prevalent across the UK for visitors, particularly teenage boys and young men in hot weather, to be inclined to jump from a pier into the surrounding water. This norm is dangerous due to the strong currents around piers, resulting in the loss of life at other piers around the UK.
Incidents
Incident 1: On 26 July 2018, Ben Quartermaine (14) and his friends were on the beach at Clacton-on-Sea, enjoying the hot weather. Both were swimmers. The air temperature had reached 34 degrees Celsius earlier that day, and the beach had been busy.
Before 18:30, Ben and his friend entered the sea near Clacton Pier. Ben and one of his friends had difficulty in the water near the pier due to the strong currents. Two pier workers helped keep hold of Ben’s friend, but Ben was unfortunately swept out to sea. The RNLI responded and searched for Ben, but they could not locate him. The search was called off, and Ben's body was found nearby the following day at around 08:00.
Incident 2: On 8 August 2020, Haider Ali (18) and Malika Shamas (14) were visitors to Clacton beach from the Luton area and got into difficulty near the pier due to the strong currents. All were swimmers.
Incident 3: On 10 August 2020, Paul Lee (65) had a fatal arrhythmia brought on by exercise whilst in the water and drowned.
Incident 4: On 19 July 2022, Sujal Sahu (21) got into difficulty with five friends in the currents near the pier and was swept out to sea and drowned. All were swimmers.
Recommendations
The recommendations below have been generated from the incident reports above and the images taken by Google Maps in 2021. There is the possibility that measures have been put into effect since these images were taken in 2021. The purpose of our post is to provide a case study for learning and development purposes for beach risk assessors.
The following recommendations are made:
- Clear demarcation of a 30-metre no-swimming zone around the pier using red flags on the beach and buoys in the water to inform visitors. A sign on the beach should reinforce and set out the terms of the no swimming zone.
- Appropriate signage on the north side of the pier to prohibit visitors from climbing on the rocks closely adjacent to the pier.
- Every effort should be made to reduce the number of access points enabling people to jump or dive from the pier.
- Reinforce the no jumping/diving from the pier message via clear signage along the pier.
- If signage proves ineffective, consider escalating the controls to reverse the cultural norm of visitors jumping and diving from the pier. For example, the local authority could consider introducing a fine for those swimming in the demarcated no-swimming zone.
South side of the pier
High risk. Access to the beach from the left- and right-hand side of the image. The area adjacent to the pier should be red-flagged at all times of the year. A sign should reinforce this. There should be signage on the pier making it clear that swimming is not permitted in the area around the pier. A fine for swimmers swimming in the red-flagged area could act as a further deterrent. CCTV cameras could be used to deter swimmers further in this area. Swimmers should be encouraged wherever possible to swim further south on the beach.
Image credit: Google Maps, 2021.
North side of the pier
High risk. There should be clear signage not to descend the ramp or vault the wall and play on the rocks. Egress from the water is more difficult on this side of the pier. Displaying a red flag would also help reinforce this message.
Image credit: Google Maps, 2021.
Citation. Jacklin, D. 2023. Intervention Case Study: Clacton Pier. Water Incident Research Hub, 25 February.
