Holidaymaker dies trying to reach shipwreck with his granddaughter

A holidaymaker died after getting caught out by the tide when he walked out to explore a shipwreck with his grandchild, an inquest has heard.

Raymond Mills, 74, was on a day out at Brancaster beach in Norfolk and had carefully planned his trip out to the SS Vina, but got into difficulties with strong currents near the ship.

The SS Vina is positioned in an area known as Wreck Sands – where Mr Mills disappeared beneath the water.

His granddaughter was able to get back to safety and a search operation was launched, but Mr Mills, from Milton Keynes, was found in the water an hour later.

Mr Mills was flown to Norwich Airport, where he was to be transported to an ambulance, but he was pronounced dead when the aircraft landed.

Mr Mills’ family told the inquest into his death, held this week at Norfolk Coroner’s Court, that there should be additional safety measures at the beach, which is owned by the National Trust.

They called for the wreck to be removed and more warning signs to be put in place highlighting the dangers.

‘Safety-conscious’ Mr Mills had researched his expedition before setting off to visit the ship, which sank in 1944 while being used as target practice for the RAF.

It lies about 800 metres off the main beach and is exposed at low tide.

The retired engineer and his wife Jacqueline were on the first day of their holiday in Norfolk with their three grandchildren.

The group were staying at Hunstanton but travelled to Brancaster for the day, on August 17, 2024.

Mrs Mills, a retired teaching assistant, told the inquest: ‘Ray was greatly looking forward to taking our three grandchildren away to Norfolk. He had promised they would try and see the shipwreck on Brancaster beach.

‘He researched the tide times, aware that the wreck was only visible for short times. Ray was super careful about any undertaking, always finding a solution to any problem and would never knowingly put himself or anyone else in danger.’

Jordan Grebby, from HM Coastguard, told the inquest in a report that the first 999 call reporting a man had gone underwater was received at around 1.30 pm.

The initial 999 call had come from a bystander who had not actually witnessed the incident but said Mr Mills had last been seen opposite the wreck.

At almost 2 pm, a further 999 call was received from another member of the public who was with a young child – believed to be Mr Mills’ granddaughter.

Minutes later, Mrs Mills made contact with 999 and she was able to confirm that her husband had gone to look at the wreck with the child before the child had returned to the shore ‘in a panic’.

Mrs Mills went on to say that while he could swim, he was ‘not a very good swimmer and was not overly familiar with the Brancaster area’.

Mrs Mills told the court: ‘Ray was my rock. We’d been together for 53 years and married almost 49 of those. He retired in January 2018, and we’d hoped to have many more happy years together.

‘He was an engineer and his practical skills knew no bounds. The high point of any day was getting a visit from the grandchildren, who he absolutely adored.

‘His health was generally good, with some of the usual problems associated with getting older. He would never let any difficulties stop him from doing what he wanted to do.’

Samantha Goward, the area coroner, read from a post-mortem report carried out by consultant histopathologist Dr Xenia Tyler which said that Mr Mills had a heart condition which may have contributed to the tragedy.

Mrs Goward explained how Dr Tyler had found that Mr Mills was suffering from a condition called atherosclerosis, a gradual build-up of plaque in the walls of arteries, in his main coronary artery.

The report said: ‘Although this causes narrowing of the [arteries], it is not sufficient to be considered severe. Exposure to cold water however may well have caused a spasm of this artery, producing further narrowing… in turn causing a fatal cardiac dysrhythmia.’

Describing Mr Mills as ‘a careful gentleman who wouldn’t take risks’, Mrs Goward said: ‘It does seem to me, on the balance of probabilities, that the cold water caused some sort of issue with Ray’s heart.

‘That, combined with going under the water, led to an element of drowning being a contributing factor.’

Mr Mill’s wife has called for the removal of the SS Vina.

She said: ‘It is abundantly clear to me that the very real dangers of the wreck area are not clearly signed. Much more needs to be done to warn the public of this. Maybe holiday resorts should make visitors aware of just how fatal the wreck area can be.

‘I think the wreck should be totally removed, taking away forever this incredibly dangerous attraction, thereby ensuring no other family has to live with the same tragedy our family has endured.’

The National Trust provided the coroner with photographs of warning signs in place on the beach.

However, the family claim they only saw one on the day of the tragedy, which told them not to feed the birds.

Previously, the National Trust said: ‘We’re mindful that Brancaster Beach does not have a lifeguard presence and is a beach that experiences a fast-flowing tidal range, with potential hazards in the water such as the SS Vina shipwreck and wartime relics.’

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