Post by LadyBlue on Jul 23, 2013 15:09:28 GMT -5
THE safety of the Cowell boat ramp has again come under scrutiny after the second death in two years occurred at the public amenity on the weekend.
Police have confirmed it was missing Tumby Bay man Robert Hocking who was found dead in a submerged car at Cowell on Saturday morning.
At about 9am on Saturday police were called to the Cowell boat ramp after a white car was found submerged in water.
The body of missing man, Robert Hocking, was discovered inside the car soon after.
The 83-year-old Tumby Bay man’s death will be counted towards the State’s road toll, which stood at 59, compared to 50 at the same time last year.
Mr Hocking was last seen at about 7.30pm Friday night, when he left a house in Port Lincoln to drive to his Tumby Bay home.
A family member saw Mr Hocking drive off in his white Kia car, but he never arrived at his Tumby Bay address.
Mr Hocking had taken a fall and struck his head during the day and police believed he may have been disorientated and taken a wrong turn.
The death is the second in just over two years after Peter Willingham died on June 26, 2011 when his vehicle plunged into the water at the boat ramp.
Disturbingly, on June 26 of this year another incident at the boat ramp occurred when a vehicle reversed over the edge.
“Lucky this time people were in the area and the young gentleman from Port Lincoln wasn’t hurt,” Cowell resident Dale Bailey explained.
“Peter Willingham’s daughter's came back to Cowell to refresh the flowers for their Dad at the cross by the inlet at the ramp, Peters daughter's Natallie and Leanne and friends all met at the ramp at 6.30pm to pay their respects, when the vehicle reversed over the edge at the same time the girls lost their father, two years later.”
Following the June 26 incident the family of Peter Willingham and Mr Bailey and approached the District Council of Franklin Harbour to have something urgently done before another life was lost.
“We have asked the council for guard rails and bollards around this area and also mentioned that the lighting in this area be upgraded.
“Peter’s family and I have been happy with the councils approach to this as the same day they blocked this area off and deemed it unsafe.
“The council were in agreement over the matter and very helpful towards fixing these issues,” Mr Bailey finished.
District Council of Franklin Harbour Mayor Eddie Elleway said the council was looking into how to improve the safety of the area.
“Council is looking at the whole situation,” he said.
“We are getting costing’s done on having barriers placed at the boat ramp.
“Council are always reviewing our property and we will look at the boat ramp again.
“Mutual liability deemed the area safe and council were not given an areas of reaction.”
Mr Bailey was at the boat ramp at the time of Mr Willingham’s accident and made every effort to try and save his friend.
“He turned his vehicle (at walking pace) slightly to the left, his right front wheel dropped over the edge and his car rolled over in slow motion, his car landed upside down in the water,” Mr Bailey explained.
“The night was very dark and cold.
“By the time we could get to him he was trapped inside his car, my partner Michelle Carmody rang 000 as I dived into the water to try and help,” Mr Bailey said.
“Sadly all my efforts in the water couldn’t help; once I had Peter out of the vehicle I attempted CPR with no success.”
It is since this accident that Mr Bailey has been passionate about improving safety at the boat ramp.
“Since that day I have complained about the lighting at the ramp, I believe Peter would still be alive if these lights had been working.
“I believe that this area is too dark and with the poor lighting in this area another life will be
www.westcoastsentinel.com.au/story/1646180/two-deaths-in-two-years-at-cowell-boat-ramp/?cs=12
Police have confirmed it was missing Tumby Bay man Robert Hocking who was found dead in a submerged car at Cowell on Saturday morning.
At about 9am on Saturday police were called to the Cowell boat ramp after a white car was found submerged in water.
The body of missing man, Robert Hocking, was discovered inside the car soon after.
The 83-year-old Tumby Bay man’s death will be counted towards the State’s road toll, which stood at 59, compared to 50 at the same time last year.
Mr Hocking was last seen at about 7.30pm Friday night, when he left a house in Port Lincoln to drive to his Tumby Bay home.
A family member saw Mr Hocking drive off in his white Kia car, but he never arrived at his Tumby Bay address.
Mr Hocking had taken a fall and struck his head during the day and police believed he may have been disorientated and taken a wrong turn.
The death is the second in just over two years after Peter Willingham died on June 26, 2011 when his vehicle plunged into the water at the boat ramp.
Disturbingly, on June 26 of this year another incident at the boat ramp occurred when a vehicle reversed over the edge.
“Lucky this time people were in the area and the young gentleman from Port Lincoln wasn’t hurt,” Cowell resident Dale Bailey explained.
“Peter Willingham’s daughter's came back to Cowell to refresh the flowers for their Dad at the cross by the inlet at the ramp, Peters daughter's Natallie and Leanne and friends all met at the ramp at 6.30pm to pay their respects, when the vehicle reversed over the edge at the same time the girls lost their father, two years later.”
Following the June 26 incident the family of Peter Willingham and Mr Bailey and approached the District Council of Franklin Harbour to have something urgently done before another life was lost.
“We have asked the council for guard rails and bollards around this area and also mentioned that the lighting in this area be upgraded.
“Peter’s family and I have been happy with the councils approach to this as the same day they blocked this area off and deemed it unsafe.
“The council were in agreement over the matter and very helpful towards fixing these issues,” Mr Bailey finished.
District Council of Franklin Harbour Mayor Eddie Elleway said the council was looking into how to improve the safety of the area.
“Council is looking at the whole situation,” he said.
“We are getting costing’s done on having barriers placed at the boat ramp.
“Council are always reviewing our property and we will look at the boat ramp again.
“Mutual liability deemed the area safe and council were not given an areas of reaction.”
Mr Bailey was at the boat ramp at the time of Mr Willingham’s accident and made every effort to try and save his friend.
“He turned his vehicle (at walking pace) slightly to the left, his right front wheel dropped over the edge and his car rolled over in slow motion, his car landed upside down in the water,” Mr Bailey explained.
“The night was very dark and cold.
“By the time we could get to him he was trapped inside his car, my partner Michelle Carmody rang 000 as I dived into the water to try and help,” Mr Bailey said.
“Sadly all my efforts in the water couldn’t help; once I had Peter out of the vehicle I attempted CPR with no success.”
It is since this accident that Mr Bailey has been passionate about improving safety at the boat ramp.
“Since that day I have complained about the lighting at the ramp, I believe Peter would still be alive if these lights had been working.
“I believe that this area is too dark and with the poor lighting in this area another life will be
www.westcoastsentinel.com.au/story/1646180/two-deaths-in-two-years-at-cowell-boat-ramp/?cs=12