Western Morning News (Saturday)
Recruit died days after being submerged in sea
AROYAL Marines recruit died after being “submerged for a prolonged period” in the sea, an inquest jury has concluded.
Ethan Jones, 20, drowned after jumping from a landing craft into deep water at Tregantle beach, Cornwall, in 2020.
Following his death, the recruit, from Somerset, was described as having had “an exceptionally promising career ahead”, while his parents said he “died doing what he loved”.
The inquest in Plymouth heard how he was in a group practising a landing craft assault, where they removed their lifejackets before disembarking on the Rame peninsula, BBC News reported.
Mr Jones drowned while taking part in a training exercise involving a night beach landing. As the final part of their training, the recruits took part in an exercise which included disembarking from a landing craft into the sea and wading to shore.
The depth of the water was deeper than anticipated and a number of recruits were submerged and had to be rescued.
Mr Jones was found floating next to the landing craft. Although he was recovered from the water and transported by air to hospital, he died three days later.
The HSE found the MoD failed to undertake a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, failed to properly plan, failed to properly supervise, and therefore failed to ensure the safety of its employees during what should have been a routine training exercise. It issued the MoD with a Crown Censure earlier this year.
HSE inspector Emma O’Hara said at the time: “This was a very serious incident which has resulted in the death of a young Royal Marines recruit at the start of his military career.
“Just like any other employer, the MoD has a responsibility to take all reasonably practicable steps to control the risks to the safety of its employees. In this case they have failed to do so.
“HSE fully recognises the importance of properly managed realistic military training but this does not mean the training itself should expose recruits to uncontrolled or inadequately controlled hazards. HSE expects training exercises to be properly planned and managed through suitable and sufficient risk assessments and safe systems of work .”
The inquest jury recorded a narrative conclusion, having also heard how the landing craft had possibly hit a sandbar in low visibility. Senior officers said training safety methods on such operations had since been improved significantly.
Senior Plymouth and South Devon coroner, Ian Arrow, said he was heartened to hear that the improvements had been made. He offered his condolences to Mr Jones’s family, saying his death was “terribly sad”.
In a statement following Mr Jones’s death, his family said: “Ethan died fulfilling his dream and doing something he loved. Joining the Royal Marines was something Ethan had wanted to do for as long as we can remember. He wanted to join the best of the best and challenge himself. Ethan loved the outdoor lifestyle and was looking forward to serving as a marine on operations around the world. We are very proud of all that he achieved.”
His section commander, Corporal Dave Wright, also paid tribute. He described Mr Jones as “the embodiment of what a commando should be”.
He added: “Recruit Jones held a special position within 282 Troop. To an outsider, he would come across as the model ‘grey man’, but to those who knew him knew he was a capable and all round exceptional Royal Marines recruit. His model personal qualities were consistently noted by the training team – as an example, during an exercise, the troop were fatigued, yet Jones took it upon himself to place his equipment down at the top of a hill, go back down and carry the kit of a fellow recruit who was struggling with an injury.
“He is a true loss to the Royal Marines as he would have inevitably achieved much within his career.”
Fellow recruit and good friend, Daniel Landrey, said: “He was our best mate and we know he would not want this much fuss made of him.
“When he didn’t have a pasty in his hand, he was getting the job done. No complaining, no fuss, just always sending it. We will miss you Jonesy.”
Lt Col Oliver Coryton, Royal Marines commanding officer for commando training, said of Mr Jones: “Completely focused upon fulfilling his potential, it was evident to all that he had an exceptionally promising career ahead. His loss has been keenly felt by those closest to him, yet his spirit endures, inspiring others to be as good as they can be.”
And Major Ian McGill, Royal Marines officer commanding Portsmouth company, hailed his many qualities, saying: “Ethan led by personal example on camp as well as in the field. He was identified early on in training as a man of promise.
“As he approached the final weeks of training he was awarded the Commando Medal, nominated by his peers in a closed ballot as the individual who best personifies the commando spirit: courage – to get out front and do what is right; determination – to never give up; unselfishness – to always put others first; and cheerfulness in the face of adversity.”