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| Man's flood death was accidental | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A coroner has highlighted "gaps" in provision for emergency underwater rescues at an inquest into the death of a man who died in the summer floods. | A coroner has highlighted "gaps" in provision for emergency underwater rescues at an inquest into the death of a man who died in the summer floods. |
| Michael Barnett's thigh became wedged in a temporary grille on a storm drain as the floods rose in Hull on 25 June. | Michael Barnett's thigh became wedged in a temporary grille on a storm drain as the floods rose in Hull on 25 June. |
| Returning a verdict of accidental death, the inquest jury said Mr Barnett, 28, had acted "selflessly" by offering to clear the drain. | Returning a verdict of accidental death, the inquest jury said Mr Barnett, 28, had acted "selflessly" by offering to clear the drain. |
| Coroner Geoffrey Saul said 999 crews had no underwater rescue capacity. | Coroner Geoffrey Saul said 999 crews had no underwater rescue capacity. |
| Neither the fire service, the police nor the ambulance service have an underwater rescue capability Coroner Geoffrey Saul | Neither the fire service, the police nor the ambulance service have an underwater rescue capability Coroner Geoffrey Saul |
| In returning his verdict, the jury foreman said Mr Barnett died when "in a selfless act to help others and without thought for his own safety, he became trapped in a flooded drain". | In returning his verdict, the jury foreman said Mr Barnett died when "in a selfless act to help others and without thought for his own safety, he became trapped in a flooded drain". |
| After the verdict, Mr Saul said he would be writing to the appropriate national authorities to report the "gap" in emergency services provision for underwater rescue. | After the verdict, Mr Saul said he would be writing to the appropriate national authorities to report the "gap" in emergency services provision for underwater rescue. |
| "It has become clear that neither the fire service, the police nor the ambulance service have an underwater rescue capability," he said. | "It has become clear that neither the fire service, the police nor the ambulance service have an underwater rescue capability," he said. |
| 'Fine young man' | |
| The inquest heard how firefighters were not trained to use their cutting equipment under water and police divers were only trained in search rather than rescue techniques. | |
| Mr Saul said he would also be writing to the heads of each of the local emergency services to suggest they look at more ways of making sure officers at the scene are aware of each other's equipment and capabilities. | |
| Michael Barnett's father heard of his son's death on television | |
| The coroner pointed out that the police at the scene were heartened by the arrival of the fire service because they were sure they had the equipment to release Mr Barnett easily. | |
| But he said the firefighters had a similar response about the capabilities of the police diving team. | |
| Mr Saul went on to praise all those who worked to try to save Mr Barnett. | |
| Then, turning to Mr Barnett's father, also called Michael, the coroner offered his condolences and said his son was a "truly fine young man". | |
| Amputation 'impossible' | Amputation 'impossible' |
| The inquest heard Mr Barnett died from hypothermia after an unsuccessful four-hour operation to free him. | The inquest heard Mr Barnett died from hypothermia after an unsuccessful four-hour operation to free him. |
| He had cleared debris from the same drain in an earlier flood. | He had cleared debris from the same drain in an earlier flood. |
| A bystander who watched the rescue efforts had told the inquest "nobody seemed to know what to do". | |
| Geoffrey Claxton, 76, said: "Everyone was doing what they could, I suppose, but they didn't seem very professional." | |
| Dr Herman Vixseboxe had gone to the scene equipped with a special saw expecting to perform an emergency amputation on Mr Barnett. | |
| But he told the inquest the operation would have been "impossible". | |