Death of retired builder in sea front

An inquest into the death of Alan Harding (aged 76) has been widely reported

Mr Harding lost his life during a visit to the seaside at Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. He died after falling 4m from the sea front wall to a pathway fracturing his skull.

The inquest heard that plans to erect ’rails’ on the wall were condemned as “health and safety gone mad” by a local councillor leading to a delay in erection of the rails. Solicitor for the family John Baden-Daintree said ”health and safety is there to prevent deaths, it is not ‘gone mad’.”

The inquest heard evidence that it was impossible to ascertain whether a heart attack or the fall had come first. Avon Coroner Maria Voisin recorded a narrative verdict and said it was unnecessary to make recommendations as the railings have now been installed.

His wife Rosemary said after the inquest, said:

“It does help to hear what happened. Right at the beginning I knew the fall hastened his death. If safety barriers had been there he wouldn’t have been able to sit on the wall. It was preventable