Benjamin McQueen Inquest – Prevention of Future Deaths report published

17th August 2023

3PB's regulatory law and crime barrister Tom HorderTom HorderCall: 2004, pictured here, acted for the Health and Safety Executive in the recently-concluded inquest into the death of Marine Benjamin McQueen.

Marine McQueen tragically drowned during a military diving exercise in Portland Harbour. He experienced complications during the dive and was later recovered from the sea bed from a depth of about 18 metres.

The Inquest, held over 3 weeks in the Royal Courts of Justice before Judge Coroner Sir Ernest Ryder, concluded that a number of failures contributed to his death including inadequate risk assessment for the combined use of equipment and a marked and inappropriate increase in the rate of training. The HSE had previously issued the MOD with a Crown Censure relating to the incident. The PFD report is available here.

If you wish to contact Tom, please email him at [email protected]. If you wish to instruct him, or see about his availability, please email his clerk Stuart Pringle on [email protected] or call him on 01962 868884.