by Thom Morris

tmorris@thekmgroup.co.uk

The parents of tragic Sea Cadet Jonathan Martin who plummeted to his death on board a ship are suing the Marine Society.

The teenager was taking part in the Sea Cadets' 150th anniversary celebrations last May and was 30 feet up on the ship's mast when he lost his balance. He crashed onto a wheelie bin, shattering his chest, before bouncing off it into the sea.

He was recovered from the waters at Stokes Bay in Portsmouth and airlifted to hospital but died from severe chest injuries en route.

Jonathan's father Andy said: "The loss of Jonathan has been devastating to our family and we will never get over it. Jonathan loved being a Sea Cadet but we feel he was let down by a lack of safety precautions which led to this tragedy.

"We hope taking legal action will raise awareness of the need for health and safety guidelines for young people taking part in activities on vessels to be improved."

Jonathan, who had been a member of Ashford Sea Cadets for two years, was among a group of teenagers who were asked to climb the ship's rigging to gather the sail.

Jonathan saw one of the team struggling and moved across the ship's mast to help. When he stepped around another Sea Cadet he slipped on a rope and fell backwards.

The crew on board immediately called the coast guard and went themselves in a boat to rescue Jonathan. He was flown by helicopter to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Trevor Sterling, partner at Russell Jones and Walker solicitors who is representing the family, said: "If Jonathan had been involved in an activity at height on land the organisers would be under obligation to follow strict health and safety laws, but these laws have exemptions for vessels.

"As such the Sea Cadets' safety provisions are currently self-regulated and it is clear from Jonathan's death that they are not adequate.

"The safety harness Jonathan was wearing was designed to prevent users getting to a height where they can fall rather than protect a user if they do fall. There was also a lack of adult supervision while Jonathan was working at height.

"We are pushing for the exemptions in health and safety laws and the system of self- regulation to be reviewed so that Sea Cadets are as protected as other young people taking part in activities at height on land."