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Airman Scott Hughes 'died after safety failures' in Cyprus Airman Scott Hughes 'died after safety failures' in Cyprus
(35 minutes later)
A coroner has blamed a systemic failure of safety systems at a military base in Cyprus for the death of a Gwynedd airman who was struck by a speedboat.A coroner has blamed a systemic failure of safety systems at a military base in Cyprus for the death of a Gwynedd airman who was struck by a speedboat.
Senior Aircraftman Scott Hughes, 20, from Y Felinheli, died two days after the incident off the shore where he had been relaxing with servicemen. Senior Aircraftman Scott Hughes, 20, from Y Felinheli, died two days after the incident off the shore where he had been relaxing with colleagues.
North Wales Coroner Nicola Jones recorded a narrative conclusion after an inquest into his death. Coroner Nicola Jones, in a narrative inquest conclusion, said no safe management safety system was in place.
SAC Hughes had been flown to the island after a six-month tour of Afghanistan. His family will pursue a civil claim against the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
He had been flown to Cyprus for two days of relaxation within a sovereign base area (SBA) on 4 November, 2010 where a number of water-based activities were organised at the base's water sports centre. SAC Hughes had been flown to Cyprus after a six-month tour of front line duty in Afghanistan.
Gunner Hughes, served with 1 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment, and two colleagues, Jack Bennett and Jamie Savage, decided to sit in a rubber ring and then be towed along by a speedboat. He was on a two-days stop-over for mandatory relaxation within a sovereign base area (SBA) on 4 November, 2010, before heading home.
As part of the break, a number of water-based activities were organised at the base's water sports centre on Tunnel Beach, Episkopi.
SAC Hughes, who served with 1 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment, and two colleagues, Jack Bennett and Jamie Savage, decided to take part in one of the activities where they sat in a rubber ring and were towed along by a speedboat.
'Vigorously pursuing''Vigorously pursuing'
However, SAC Hughes fell off, the inquest was told, and started swimming back to the nearby pontoon, a normal practice.However, SAC Hughes fell off, the inquest was told, and started swimming back to the nearby pontoon, a normal practice.
Shortly afterwards, the boat driver, a civilian contractor referred to as Stelios, dropped the remaining passengers at the shore, unhooked the ring, and moved off towards the pontoon.Shortly afterwards, the boat driver, a civilian contractor referred to as Stelios, dropped the remaining passengers at the shore, unhooked the ring, and moved off towards the pontoon.
The hearing was told that this was when SAC Hughes was struck, suffering severe head injuries. He was taken to hospital in Limassol where he later died. The hearing was told that this was when SAC Hughes was struck, suffering severe head injuries. He was taken to hospital in Limassol where he died two days later.
At the end of the four-day inquest held in LLandudno, Ms Jones said there had been a systemic failure of safety systems within the military base which meant health and safety briefings were insufficient. At the end of the four-day inquest held in Llandudno, North Wales Coroner Ms Jones said there had been a systemic failure of safety systems within the military base which meant health and safety briefings were insufficient.
She also said that if the boat driver had out his boat into neutral or stopped the engine once he had hit Scott Hughes instead of going into reverse he would not have suffered his fatal injuries She also said that if the boat driver had out his boat into neutral or stopped the engine once he had hit SAC Hughes instead of going into reverse he would not have suffered his fatal injuries.
The solicitor representing the family Mark McGhee said they would be "vigorously pursuing a substantial civil claim against the Ministry of Defence. "Scott Hughes fell from the inflatable donut and went unnoticed by the driver and observer," said Ms Jones.
"The boat then went over Mr Scott Hughes, and when (he was) under the boat the driver engaged reverse, causing fatal injuries.
"There was systemic failure as no safe management safety system was put in place, which played a contributory factor in the death of Scott Hughes."
Speaking after the inquest, the solicitor representing the family, Mark McGhee, said they would be "vigorously pursuing a substantial civil claim against the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
"Unsurprisingly the coroner's findings have confirmed what we and Scott's family have believed for almost three years - that the tragic death of this fine young man was wholly avoidable," said Mr McGhee."Unsurprisingly the coroner's findings have confirmed what we and Scott's family have believed for almost three years - that the tragic death of this fine young man was wholly avoidable," said Mr McGhee.
'Life on line'
SAC Hughes's mother Emma, also speaking after the hearing, heavily criticised the MoD for failing to protect her son.
"Scott was prepared to put his life on the line to defend his country and in return his employer, the Ministry of Defence, catastrophically failed to take care of him whilst he was undertaking duties on a decompression activity in Cyprus," she said.
"This ultimately led to the loss of his very young, exciting and full life.
"Scott's whole life and very promising career within the RAF have been cut short by failures at the Ministry of Defence which have been noted in this inquest.
"We as the family have endured almost three long years of pure hell waiting for this inquest to take place in our quest to find all of the truth about what happened to our precious son, Scott.
"The Ministry of Defence has caused us considerable heartache and distress by failing to support us in every aspect of this living nightmare."
The MoD is expected to issue a response later.