Jury rule Jean's death 'accidental' as inquest closes

CORONER TO PEN REPORT INTO DEATH AFTER HELIPAD INCIDENT

- CARL EVE

A CORONER has said he intends to send a Prevention of future Deaths report to the transport minister requesting a new database of hospital landing sites, after the death of an 87-year-old grandmother at Derriford Hospital, which a jury has ruled as 'accidental'.

Jean Langan suffered serious head injuries when she was blown backwards by the gusts - known as 'downwash' - caused by a HM Coastguard helicopter.

At the time it was landing at the helipad at Derriford Hospital on March 4, 2022, carrying a patient.

Mrs Langan had been at the hospital with her niece, getting new hearing aids fitted. As they walked back across Car Park B the blast of air from the approaching helicopter knocked her backwards, her head hitting the ground, leaving her with unsustainable injuries.

She later died in Derriford's A&E department. After hearing two days' worth of evidence, a jury returned a conclusion of accidental death.

The inquest heard from the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), the Civil Aviation Authority, the Health and Safety Executive, South West Ambulance Service Trust, HM Coastguard, the crew of the Coastguard helicopter, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and Bristow Helicopters.

A statement from Graham Hamilton, of Bristow Helicopters' UK Search and Rescue (SAR) Director, explained the UK SAR service was provided under contract with the Maritime Coastal Agency which was awarded following a competitive bidding process "which considered all aspects of Bristows' operation and expertise in this area".

After the incident at Derriford, Bristow immediately suspended flights of its aircraft into the Derriford Hospital Landing Site (HLS).

Since then Bickleigh Barracks has been made the alternative landing site and there were no plans by the hospital to resume the landing of the larger helicopters at Derriford.