A West Australian coroner has asked the state government to recommend skippers train their crew on activation of EPIRB  beacons after an examination into the drowning of a 49-year-old recreational angler.

Paul Gregory Clifton had been fishing with his sibling and two companions in June 2013 when his watercraft began to take on water and rapidly sank in rough oceans. The 5.2-meter fiberglass runabout has never been found. As water came on board, the men quickly put on life vests, however they couldn’t initiate the EPIRB device before the vessel went under the waves.

Coroner Sarah Linton recommended in her findings among other things, that the Skipper’s Ticket workbook should tell skippers to ensure all people on board know how to use equipment such as manually-activated emergency beacons.

“The failure to activate the EPIRB was a significant feature in this case,” she said.

“If the EPIRB had been attached to someone at an early stage, it would not have been lost.

“I also note that if the EPIRB on the boat had been the type automatically activated once in water, this might also have been of assistance.

“But for the chance passing of a cray fishing boat and the good eyes of its crew member, this inquest might well have been dealing with four deaths rather than one.”

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