Crew 'insufficiently trained' to save drowning woman

Volunteers at a charity for sailors with disabilities were "insufficiently trained" to rescue a woman who drowned after falling overboard from a yacht, an accident investigation has found.

Elizabeth Wood, 43, died after she fell from an Andrew Cassell Foundation (ACF) vessel during a race off Cowes, Isle of Wight in October 2022.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report also found an "incomplete" risk assessment was carried out ahead of the event.

The ACF said it was "profoundly saddened" by Ms Wood's death and that it had "introduced significant improvements" after the incident.

The ACF, based in Cowes, aims to enable sailors with disabilities to race with and against non-disabled crews in an "inclusive and equal environment".

On the day of the incident, it was participating in a race organised by the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club.

The MAIB report said the small sailing vessel called LimbItless was crewed by an experienced skipper, Ms Wood, and two foundation participant crew members.

After Ms Wood fell overboard, the skipper and one of the crew members were able to get the vessel alongside her but were "unable to pull her inboard".

Three other vessels assisted in the rescue effort but Ms Wood was unconscious when she was pulled from the water and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators found the charity's risk assessment "did not consider recovery methods tailored to individual needs of crew members."

The report said the crew "did not have an effective method of recovering Elizabeth from the water".

According to the MAIB report, Ms Wood had sailed extensively in her youth.

It added that treatment she had received for a series of physical and mental health conditions had led to significant weight gain and a loss of confidence.

She joined joined the ACF in 2021 and had participated in Cowes Week the following year.

Following Ms Wood's death the ACF teamed up with the RNLI and other organisations to create a "FastNet Recovery System" which is a net that makes it easier to recover people who have fallen into the water.

Chief inspector of marine accidents, Andrew Moll, said: "Not every event or outing requires bespoke equipment but it may be necessary, especially when sailing with people whose ability to assist with their own recovery might be impaired.

"All skippers should consider how they and their crew will recover an unconscious person from the water in a timely manner and ensure they and their crew practise thoroughly for such an event."

An ACF spokesperson said: "Since the incident, we have introduced significant improvements designed to strengthen the support and protection we offer to all participants.

"These include the introduction of a dedicated safety vessel, enhanced risk assessments tailored to individual needs, and joining the RYA Sailability programme to further our commitment to inclusive and safe sailing.

"Our charity was founded to break down barriers and open up competitive sailing to disabled sailors.

"We remain fully committed to this mission and to ensuring the highest possible standards of care, safety, and support for everyone who sails with us."

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