Inquest will bring closure

THE family, friends, colleagues and the company involved in the tragic triple skydive deaths at Mission Beach last year will be relieved that a date has been set for the start of an inquest into the tragedy.

Kerri Anne Pike, Peter Michael Dawson and Tobias John Turner died during a tandem skydive on October 13 last year.

The deaths rocked the family, friends and colleagues of the three people, operator Skydive Cairns, the Mission Beach community and the Far Northern tourism industry.

The inquest is set to open on August 6 but no evidence will be heard at the time. Applications for leave to appear and the date and place for hearing evidence will be decided.

Coroner Nerida Wilson will investigate how and what caused, and the circumstances surrounding, their deaths.

She will also investigate whether there was a mid-air collision between tandem skydivers Peter Dawson and Kerri Pike and solo skydriver Tobias Turner, if all parachutes were deployed appropriately and if safety measures and standards were complied with by Skydive Cairns.

The Coroner will investigate the roles of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority in monitoring and enforcing safety practises in the commercial/tourism parachuting industry, including the review of serious and fatal incidents.

The Coroner may recommend measures to prevent deaths happening in similar circumstances.

The inquest’s findings will give closure to all parties involved and it is hoped recommendations will give surety and confidence to the industry and their customers. Nick Dalton Deputy editor