Boy, 14, died on school trip after backpack was caught in ski lift

A BRITISH boy died on a school trip to the French Alps when the straps of his backpack became tangled in a ski lift, an inquest heard.

Kieran Brookes, 14, was strangled when his bag got caught in the ski lift mechanism in the Alpine resort of Chatel in February 2011.

The Torquay Boys’ Grammar School pupil, pictured, was suspended in the air for around four minutes before he was released.

Attempts were made to revive Kieran, from Bovey Tracey, Devon, before he was taken to a hospital in Annecy with a severe brain injury.

He was later transferred to the intensive care unit at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, where he died a month later.

The coroner, John Tomalin, recorded a conclusion of unlawful killing yesterday after the inquest heard there were inadequate warnings in place on the ski lifts. Teacher Charlotte Pittocho, who was on the trip, told the inquest in Exeter she had not heard any teachers, ski instructors or ski lift staff tell people to hold their backpacks on their laps on the lifts.

She said: ‘During the trip there was no specific advice given to the boys on how to use the lifts.

‘It was something that was never directly discussed between the teachers and we did not specifically talk to the boys about how to use the lifts.

‘After the incident I saw there were a number of small signs near to the entrance for the ski lifts about rucksacks.

‘I felt they were easily missed. At no point did I see anyone being told to remove their rucksacks.’

Mrs Pittocho said Kieran had boarded the ski lift ahead of her and she was not aware of any problem until the lift stopped and a siren went off.

Describing the accident, she said: ‘From where I was sat the boy had his back to me and he was continuing to struggle. I could not see how he was attached to the bottom of the chair lift.’

Mr Tomalin concluded: ‘Kieran Brookes died as a result of appropriate mechanisms not being in place.

‘There were not enough visible warning signs and there was a lack of advice on wearing backpacks on chair lifts.’ He will now write a report of recommendations.