NT trawler electrocution death referred to prosecutors

7335432-3x4-340x453A commercial fishing company and government regulators have been savaged over abysmal health and safety failures that led to the electrocution of a man on a prawn trawler. Ryan Donoghue, 20, was hit by a wave while using an angle grinder, not protected by a safety switch, on a trawler fishing in the Gulf of Carpentaria, in November 2013. In his inquest findings, Northern Territory coroner Greg Cavanagh referred the death to prosecutors and police, saying offences may have been committed. The workplace on board the Austral Fisheries-owned Newfish1 vessel was unsafe and dangerous and resulted in Mr Donoghue’s death, the Judge Cavanagh said on Friday. It also highlighted the “shameful” state of safety on a large number of fishing vessels. “The death of Ryan Donoghue was needless and a tragic waste of a young life,” the judge said. Read the rest here 19:59

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