Two wheelchair died after ‘poorly maintained’ boat capsized

The capsize of a motorboat which led to the drowning of two wheelchair users happened because the vessel was not watertight, an investigation has found.

Alex Wood, 43, and Alison Tilsley, 63, were on a day trip from a care home when they died on Roadford Lake, near Okehampton, Devon, on June 8, 2022.

They were among six people thrown into the water when Wheelyboat 123 – a recreational craft modified for wheelchair users – capsized.

Both Alex and Alison were found the following day and pronounced dead at the scene.

A report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch found the victims were strapped into their motorised wheelchairs and ‘dragged to the bottom of the lake and drowned’.

Investigators found the wheelyboat had not been correctly maintained. Seals on a ramp were not subjected to a regular inspection and had degraded, leading to a water leak which made the boat unstable.

Alex was married and from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, and Alison, who was known as Ali, were residents at the Burdon Grange care home in nearby Beaworthy.

The MAIB said Roadford Lake Activity Centre, which hired out the vessel to the care home, had not fully identified the risks or understood the ‘unique needs’ of operating it.

South West Lakes Trust, a charity which manages the centre, was approached for a comment.

Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents Andrew Moll said: ‘No-one had taken time to properly consider the risks associated with taking the wheelchair users afloat, either before the accident or on the day itself.

‘The condition of the wheelyboat had been allowed to deteriorate so water could enter it, and on the day no-one recognised the implications of carrying vulnerable people who were strapped into heavy motorised wheelchairs around a lake in an open boat.

‘In short, no-one had their eye on the risk, and tragically Alison Tilsley and Alex Wood lost their lives.

‘As well as the catalogue of failings highlighted by the report, the investigation has also uncovered a worrying lack of oversight which must be seen as an impetus for urgent action.

‘Charitable activities such as this seem to fall into a grey zone with no organisation or authority in a position of oversight.’

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