Hampshire cruise passenger killed by reversing lorry in Barbados
Janet Purkess had just left Saga Sapphire when she was hit by a lorry that was reversing “in speed” along a road beside the ship. Mrs Purkess, 87, of Lyndhurst, suffered serious injuries in the collision and died at the scene. Mrs Purkess had just left Saga Sapphire when the accident happened in Bridgetown, Barbados (Image: Martini archive)
Saga Sapphire was making an unscheduled visit to Bridgetown, Barbados, when the accident happened on January 25 2020. The Portsmouth inquest heard that a breakdown in communications meant there were no port security staff on hand to ensure the safety of passengers leaving the ship. Area coroner Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp was also told that the driver of the lorry, Anthony Walcott, did not have a valid licence at the time.
His licence had expired in 2019 and was not renewed until two days after the accident. Mrs Purkess was on a 33-night cruise when she was hit by a truck in Barbados (Image: Martini archive) Sergeant Andrew Sandiford, of Barbados Police, said Mr Walcott was “reversing negligently” by failing to consistently check his rearview mirrors.
Had he done so, said Sgt Sandiford, he would have been able to see Mrs Purkess in the distance. Quoting the only known witness to the accident, Ms Rhodes-Kemp said the lorry was reversing “in speed” when the collision occurred. The inquest heard that Mr Walcott is due to stand trial in June, but the coroner said attempts to obtain more information about the case had been “thwarted on numerous occasions”.
Mrs Purkess was not using a pedestrian catwalk when the accident happened. Insurance loss adjustor Martin Goddard, who helped investigate the tragedy, cited the absence of security personnel, the “unsafe” operation of the lorry, and the “unauthorised presence of the deceased”. On the morning of the accident, garbage was being taken off the ship and thrown into skips.
Ms Rhodes-Kemp said Mrs Purkess might have been distracted by the activity that was taking place on the quayside. One of her sons, Chris Purkess, asked Mr Goddard if he thought the pensioner was in any way to blame for what happened. He replied: “To be honest, I don’t know.”
Stuart Hornein, the ship’s captain, submitted a written statement in which he said Mrs Purkess was on a 33-night cruise called Tales of the Carribean.
He added: “It’s very difficult for a visiting ship to exercise any real control over quayside activities.”
The inquest continues.
References
- ^ Cruise passenger, 87, dies after being hit by truck at Caribbean port (www.dailyecho.co.uk)