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Captain admits cadet death error Captain admits cadet death error
(about 5 hours later)
An Army captain has admitted he should have carried out a head count after a boat capsized, leading to the death of a teenage cadet.An Army captain has admitted he should have carried out a head count after a boat capsized, leading to the death of a teenage cadet.
Kaylee McIntosh, 14, of Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, drowned after the boat upturned on Loch Carnan, South Uist, last year.Kaylee McIntosh, 14, of Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, drowned after the boat upturned on Loch Carnan, South Uist, last year.
Capt David Adams, 42, accepted a search should have begun earlier - but the alarm was not raised for 90 minutes.Capt David Adams, 42, accepted a search should have begun earlier - but the alarm was not raised for 90 minutes.
The sheriff holding the fatal accident inquiry viewed the boat on Friday.The sheriff holding the fatal accident inquiry viewed the boat on Friday.
The fifth day of the FAI at Inverness Sheriff Court heard 34 cadets were due on a field exercise, but tragedy struck as the children were being shipped across Loch Carnan.The fifth day of the FAI at Inverness Sheriff Court heard 34 cadets were due on a field exercise, but tragedy struck as the children were being shipped across Loch Carnan.
The first 17 cadets, including Kaylee, had boarded three power boats and Capt Adams waited at the pier with the remaining 17.The first 17 cadets, including Kaylee, had boarded three power boats and Capt Adams waited at the pier with the remaining 17.
However, not long after, he noticed cadets coming up from the pier soaking wet and crying.However, not long after, he noticed cadets coming up from the pier soaking wet and crying.
At that stage there was people still out in the water Capt David AdamsWitnessAt that stage there was people still out in the water Capt David AdamsWitness
He met one of the instructors, and Capt Adams said: "I asked what happened. He said: 'It is okay, we have had a capsize, cadets are in this boat and the rest on the other'."
Capt Adams said he "mistakenly" assumed the remaining cadets were accounted for.Capt Adams said he "mistakenly" assumed the remaining cadets were accounted for.
Counsel Simon di Rollo, representing Kaylee's parents, asked: "Did you carry out a head count?"Counsel Simon di Rollo, representing Kaylee's parents, asked: "Did you carry out a head count?"
He replied: "No."He replied: "No."
Mr di Rollo added: "Do you agree that if that had been done then it might have been discovered Kaylee was missing?"Mr di Rollo added: "Do you agree that if that had been done then it might have been discovered Kaylee was missing?"
Capt Adams replied: "At that stage there was people still out in the water."Capt Adams replied: "At that stage there was people still out in the water."
Mr di Rollo said: "Did you wait until all the cadets returned?"Mr di Rollo said: "Did you wait until all the cadets returned?"
Capt Adams said: "No."Capt Adams said: "No."
'Earlier stage'
Mr di Rollo said: "If you had, would you have discovered Kaylee was missing?"Mr di Rollo said: "If you had, would you have discovered Kaylee was missing?"
Capt Adams replied: "That is possible, yes."Capt Adams replied: "That is possible, yes."
However, he took the wet cadets back to the camp and then went to inform his sergeant major of the accident. 'Elephant's trunks'
Mr di Rollo asked: "You knew how many cadets you had taken back?" The court later heard from a powerboat expert that the weight of the engine at the back of the boat and the machine gun at the front were both contributory factors in its sinking.
Capt Adams said: "Yes." Paul Mara, chief powerboat instructor for the Royal Yachting Association, said the boat became very unstable after it started taking on water. He said the instability was increased by the off-centre engine to the rear.
He said he did not contact the pier to find out how many cadets had arrive back safely ashore. The problem was worsened he said by the weight of the machine gun dragging down the front of the boat and allowing spray to enter.
Mr di Rollo said: "If you had you would have discovered you could not account for 17?" Mr Mara also told Mr di Rollo that the boat's "elephant's trunks" - tubing used to release on board water - were not lowered when they should have been.
Capt Adams said: "That is probably, yes." He also agreed that the boat was operating beyond its capacity given the strength of the wind, which was approaching gale force.
Mr di Rollo asked: "If that had been discovered then it would have been noticed Kaylee was missing at an earlier stage?"
Inquiry adjourned
Capt Adams confirmed: "Yes."
Mr di Rollo added: "What happened here was the Coastguard arrived around 11am, the first thing he asked was have you got everyone? He was told yes."
Capt Adams said: "Yes."
Mr di Rollo said: "So the problem was that the helicopter arrived and was then sent back. You understand that?"
Capt Adams replied: "Yes."
Meanwhile, Capt Adams told the inquiry he was surprised no risk assessment of the sea trip had been carried out by training officer Fergus Gatt.
Sheriff Alastair MacFadyen and legal representatives of Kaylee's family and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) earlier inspected the craft.Sheriff Alastair MacFadyen and legal representatives of Kaylee's family and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) earlier inspected the craft.
The sheriff at one point climbed a stepladder to see inside the khaki green vessel at Northern Constabulary HQ in Inverness.The sheriff at one point climbed a stepladder to see inside the khaki green vessel at Northern Constabulary HQ in Inverness.
The FAI was adjourned to 11 August at Stornoway Sheriff Court, due to pressure on space at Inverness Sheriff Court.The FAI was adjourned to 11 August at Stornoway Sheriff Court, due to pressure on space at Inverness Sheriff Court.