Cork fisherman died after falling off ladder in 'one in a million' accident on vessel

Bantry Coroner's Court heard Des Hurley, 29, lost his balance while on a ladder in the accommodation deck of a family-owned fishing vessel after he went to retrieve a jumper

Desmond (Des) Hurley: Coroner noted there was 'strong circumstantial evidence' Des lost his footing on the ladder, sustained a neck injury and suffered cardio respiratory failure. File picture: RIP.ie

A young crew member fell off a ladder on board a fishing vessel, fracturing his upper neck, which led to cardiac arrest and instant death, an inquest has heard.

The Coroner’s Court in Bantry, Co Cork, heard Desmond (Des) Hurley, 29, lost his balance while on a ladder in the accommodation deck of a family-owned fishing vessel, the Breizh Arvor II, on December 14, 2023.

Des, his brother Mark and other crew members had been fishing at the Porcupine Bank off the southwest coast of Ireland when the accident occurred.

Coroner Frank O’Connell said unfortunately, it was a case “of lightning striking”, leading to a “one in a million death.” 

Mark Hurley, who is a brother of the deceased, said he asked Desmond to take over at the wheelhouse at close to midnight on December 13, 2023. Desmond went downstairs to change his jumper.

Mark went looking for his brother when he did not come back up from the accommodation deck in a matter of minutes. He went looking for Des in the accommodation deck. He saw his brother lying on the floor.

Mark told the coroner he and another crew member administered CPR on Des, but to no avail.

“We could see Des was gone but we had to try.” Mark said Des had sustained a mark on his forehead. 

Mark, in his role as skipper, instructed the crew to haul in their nets so they could return back to shore. Mark contacted Valentia Coastguard. He then called Medico to speak to a nurse.

Crew member Haralambie Floren said he had experience in first aid and assisted Mark with CPR on Des. He said the administering of CPR was difficult because of sea swells.

Poignantly, the inquest heard the crew members did not want to leave Des lying on the floor as they made the journey back to Castletownbere, Co Cork. They made a decision to lift him to his bunk bed to give him dignity in death.

Sergeant Stephen O’Sullivan, who was on duty at Castletownbere Garda Station on December 14 of last year, said they were informed a death had occurred at sea. The fishing vessel returned to Castletownbere that evening.

Slipped on a step

He said having accessed the scene, his opinion was Des probably slipped on a step as he made his way back up the timber stairs of the accommodation deck, having retrieved his jumper. He said Des possibly hit his head off the door frame of the room.

Scenes of crimes investigators assessed the scene. However, this was only a formality as there was no suggestion of anything untoward having happened. The Marine Casualty Board and the HSE were contacted as a matter of course.

Dr Margaret Bolster carried out an autopsy on the body of Mr Hurley at the morgue in Cork City. She said he sustained a fracture of the upper neck bone. She said injuries of this type can lead to cardiac arrest.

Dr Bolster reassured family members of the deceased that death would have occurred “very quickly.” She indicated the injury had caused Des’s heart to stop.

In conclusion, coroner Frank O’Connell noted there was “strong circumstantial evidence” Des lost his footing on the ladder, sustained a neck injury and suffered cardio respiratory failure. 

He offered his heartfelt condolences to the Hurley family and said the death had occurred as a result of “extreme bad luck”. 

He acknowledged the passing of Des was a “terrible blow to the family”. 

Inspector Triona O’Mahony and the foreman of the jury also offered their sympathy to the relatives of the deceased. The foreman said what had happened to Des was “unimaginable”.