Press & Media
Fatal Accident Inquiry - Determination
Comments by the Abernethy Trust on the DETERMINATION by Sheriff Johanna Johnston following the Inquiry into the death of LAURA MCDAIRMANT
Abernethy Trust has read with great care the DETERMINATION by Sheriff Johanna Johnston which we accept as being very detailed and comprehensive.
We recognise that there were failures in our lines of communication which contributed to this tragic accident.
Abernethy Trust welcomes the Sheriff’s findings that we acted swiftly following the accident and took steps to ensure that appropriate safety measures were put in place.
We note that Sheriff Johnston, having regard to the steps we had already taken, does not make any Recommendations regarding the management and organisation of the Abernethy Trust.
The Sheriff makes a number of Recommendations about the regulation of outdoor centres. We have in the past always sought to work closely with the regulatory authorities and it is our desire to continue to do so to ensure that there cannot be a repeat of Laura’s tragic accident.
28th June 2010
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Contact Details
Audrey McIntyre Tel: 01557 820261
Fatal Accident Inquiry
Previous Statements issued on behalf of the Abernethy Trust - 2009
The Abernethy Trust deeply regrets the tragic loss of Laura McDairmant. The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Abernethy are with the McDairmant family at this time.
The whole Abernethy team was shocked and deeply saddened by the awful news of Laura’s accident. She was very much part of the Barcaple family, having enjoyed 5 visits to the centre. Over the 38 years of operating as an outdoor provider, Abernethy has taken very seriously the importance of safety in all aspects of its outdoor adventure programmes, and until that point three years ago had operated without major incident or injury. Well over 400,000 young people throughout that time have enjoyed adventure activities, all provided in full compliance with the regulatory authorities.
Since the accident in 2006, stringent measures have been taken to completely review again every current site and activity offered in our programmes to ensure risk assessment and safety management procedures are being operated to the highest standards. Everything has been done that is practically possible to prevent an accident like this happening again in the future.
Abernethy intends to continue providing the high quality outdoor adventure experiences Laura enjoyed so much with the determination to learn whatever lessons we can from her tragic death.
Editors Notes:
The following people have provided authorised comments.
Tim Walker
Principal of Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre
Glenmore Lodge (1996 to 2008)
“Accidents are a fact of life - most occur at home or on our roads. In delivering an outdoor experience for young people, there will always be associated risks and, whilst these can be minimised, if removed completely then the experience is rendered worthless.
The Abernethy Trust has an excellent reputation within the outdoor education sector. Many hundreds of thousands have benefited from programmes offered by the Trust. I know that the lessons learned from this tragic accident will be for the benefit of the whole outdoor education sector.
My greatest concern would be that any future opportunities for education in the outdoors is denied to young people.”
Peter Higgins
Professor of Outdoor and Environmental Education
University of Edinburgh
“Those of us who have devoted their careers to the development of learning outdoors are motivated by the educational power of such experiences for young people, and the valuable personal development that results. In the UK hundreds of thousands of school-pupil days a year are spent learning outdoors, both close to their school and farther afield, often based in residential outdoor centres. Such learning opportunities are valued by participants, their families, schools and our governments.
As in all walks of life accidents do occur on such programmes and very occasionally are fatal. The tragic death of Laura McDairmant, a participant on an outdoor programme at Barcaple Centre in 2006 is one such accident. The only appropriate course of action for the programme provider is to review its practices to ensure that such an accident will never happen again. I am very familiar with the work of the Abernethy Trust and am confident that this is also their view, and that they have already taken steps to do so at their centres.
However, any accident in the field should be a reminder to all providers of the potential hazards we work with, and of the importance of ensuring the highest standards of management, delivery and oversight. I hope that other outdoor providers will also reflect on the kinds of activities they offer, and the way in which they are managed to ensure the continued delivery of the high standards of outdoor education for which Scotland and the UK are internationally respected.”
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Contact Details
Audrey McIntyre Tel: 01557 820261