5 day Jury Inquest for Philip Parry

September 22, 2014

Philip Parry from Exchange Chambers has acted for Wilhemsen Lines Car Carriers Ltd (one of the largest freight carriers in the world) in a 5 day jury inquest into the death of an Able Bodied Seaman.

Gerardo Tonogbanua was killed in February 2011 when he fell into the water during an emergency exercise drill on the MV Tombarra.  Avon Coroner’s Court heard the accident happened as a lifeboat was being winched back up and the wire broke.

Three other men, also from the Philippines, survived the fall.

The sailors plummeted about 30m (100ft) into the sea from the top deck of the vessel which was owned and operated by maritime services provider Wilhelmsen.  The ship was en route from Koper in Slovenia, to Zeebrugge, Belgium, with 22 Filipino crew members on board when the accident happened.

The inquest found Mr Tonogbanua died accidentally.