Two wheelchair users dragged to bottom of lake and drowned when ‘poorly maintained’ wheelyboat capsized on day trip

TWO wheelchair users died erstwhile a "poorly maintained" wheelyboat they were strapped into capsized connected a lake.

Alex Wood, 43, and Alison Tilsley, 63, were connected a time travel astatine Roadford Lake successful Devon from their attraction location erstwhile the calamity unfolded.

The pair, who were strapped into their motorised wheelchairs, were connected a specially adapted vas known arsenic "Wheelyboat 123".

Alex and Tilsey were "dragged to the bottommost of the water and drowned" during the horror connected June 8, 2022.

A study by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) recovered the vessel had not been correctly maintained.

Seals connected a ramp were not subjected to a regular inspection and had degraded - meaning h2o was capable to leak into the boat.

The MAIB besides said Roadford Lake Activity Centre, which hired retired the vas to the attraction home, had not afloat identified the risks oregon understood the "unique needs" of operating it.

Four different radical were rescued erstwhile the vessel capsized connected its mode backmost to the centre - including a pistillate near successful a captious condition.

Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents Andrew Moll said: "No-one had taken clip to decently see the risks associated with taking the wheelchair users afloat, either earlier the mishap oregon connected the time itself.

"The information of the wheelyboat had been allowed to deteriorate truthful h2o could participate it, and connected the time no-one recognised the implications of carrying susceptible radical who were strapped into dense motorised wheelchairs astir a water successful an unfastened boat.

"In short, no-one had their oculus connected the risk, and tragically Alison Tilsley and Alex Wood mislaid their lives.

"As good arsenic the catalogue of failings highlighted by the report, the probe has besides uncovered a worrying deficiency of oversight which indispensable beryllium seen arsenic an impetus for urgent action.

"Charitable activities specified arsenic this look to autumn into a grey portion with nary organisation oregon authorization successful a presumption of oversight."

A full inquest into Alex and Alison's deaths is owed to beryllium held astatine a aboriginal date.

In moving a tribute pursuing the tragedy, Alison's household said they were "devastated" by the decease of the "kind, caring and loving" woman.

They added: "Her sunny nature, positivity, fantastic consciousness of humour and accomplishment with words volition beryllium greatly missed.

"Our hearts are breached everlastingly but the messages of emotion and enactment we person received are of large comfort."