Signs could be improved at Le Pinacle following teen's tragic accident

Wednesday 11 April 2018

Signs around Le Pinacle in St. Ouen could soon be improved to warn walkers and climbers of its dangerous nature, an Inquest into the death of a 19-year-old boy who fell from the 200ft rock and suffered unsurvivable head and chest injuries has heard.

Jacob Cartwright, an avid rock climber, was found close to the sea on a plateau at the bottom of Le Pinacle at Les Landes Common around noon on 1 July 2017.

Tony Forder, the Police Coroner’s Officer, told the Inquest that Jacob's father, Gerald Cartwright, had reported him missing a few hours before. Mr Cartwright said he had last seen Jacob around 02:00 before going to bed. While Jacob was known to go on walks, even late at night, he usually returned so when his dad found Jacob's bed still made from the day before, he called the police.

Mr Cartwright said that the last time he saw Jacob, the boy was happy because he had just beaten a friend at a game for the first time. He added: "What happened after that I don’t know but what I know is that when I hugged him for the last time, I was hugging a boy who loved life, who was looking forward with much excitement to a lot more life."

Around 12:00, a man who had been fishing around Les Landes with his daughter called the police to say he had found a body. By the time officers arrived on the scene, the body, which was later identified as Jacob's, had been swept-out by the rising tide and had to be retrieved at sea. 

The Inquest heard that Jacob was not a great sleeper and would walk until the early hours of the day then go to bed. He enjoyed climbing, walking and exploring. Mr Forder said that it was difficult to ascertain at what time Jacob had arrived at Le Pinacle. He said that Jacob had probably left his father's home in St. Ouen shortly after 02:00 and arrived at the rock just before sunrise. He added that it was clear from the scene that Jacob had fallen from the very top of the 200ft rock. 

Pictured: Tony Forder, the Police Coroner’s Officer, described Le Pinacle (pictured left) as "treacherous by its very nature."

The officer described Jacob's death as a "tragic accident" adding that there was no evidence he had taken his own life or had any intention to do so. Mr Forder said: "He had gone for a walk in the early hours as he was prone to do. He walked to Le Pinacle and climbed the rock before sunrise and he accidentally fell. It was an instantaneous death."

Doctor Amanda Jane Jeffery, a Home Office registered forensic pathologist who carried out a post-mortem investigation, confirmed that the death had been instantaneous and that Jacob wouldn't have suffered. She said there was no evidence of any pre-existent condition or disease that could have caused him to fall or collapse while on the rock and that Jacob was not under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any other substances when he fell.

Doctor Jeffery explained that Jacob suffered a "catastrophic and unsurvivable" head injury as well as significant vasculary injury in his heart. Both were entirely consistent with a fall from height. She said there was no injuries that couldn’t be explained by the fall and that she was confident no foul play had been involved. She said: "There was nothing to suggest he had been physically assaulted or restrained against his will, or nothing to give concern of anyone else being involved."

Pictured: An aerial view of Le Pinacle. (Google Maps)

The Inquest heard that Jacob had a holiday to Norway booked in August 2017 and was enrolled to study Japanese and Spanish in Cardiff as languages were one of his great interests along with politics.

One of Jacob's friends since Year 11 described him as a "very clever lad, the smartest person I have ever met." Another friend of 15 years, who said Jacob and him had grown up together, explained they had walked together at night as they both struggled with sleeping. They would go on the cliffs paths to "chill under the stars." He said Jacob was "quite sensible in knowing his own limitations and wouldn’t take too much risks." "I was comfortable jumping from 80ft but Jacob wouldn’t go higher than 20ft," the teen said.

He described Jacob as a "fair, kind, caring friend" who would always be there for his friends. "He had a wicked sense of humour and was into politics," the boy added. "He was really smart and an all round decent bloke. I miss him very much."

Pictured: Jacob's friends and family said he was known to walk at night around St. Ouen when he couldn't sleep.

Jacob's mum, Suki Cartwright, said he was a "quiet young man" and a "happy soul," of whom she was very proud. She said he was in a gap year, having finished school at Hautlieu the year before, and that he was about to go to Cardiff University. She explained he had suffered from anxiety for a short time in the past, around exams, but had sorted it out.

She explained that Jacob lived between his parent's houses as they didn't live together but had a good relationship. Mrs Cartwright said: "Jacob was happy, really happy. He was looking forward to go on holiday. He had booked his flights, his accommodation and had changed his money all ready to go. 

"He had everything to live for and was ready to spread his wings. He wasn’t unhappy, he wasn't depressed and he wasn't suicidal."

She said Jacob loved to climb even as a child. "If there was an opportunity, he would climb a rock," she said adding that the last photo she had taken of him was him climbing a rock at Green Island. She said he definitely knew Le Pinacle as he had been there with her.

Mrs Cartwright added: "I am beyond heartbroken. Jacob was the most gentle, beautiful loving soul I have ever known. He touched the hearts of everyone who met him. He was destined for great things. It still seems so unreal that simply by doing something he loved, climbing, he was taken by a tragic accident. We still miss him so much none of us will ever be the same again."

Pictured: The inquest was heard at Morier House with Advocate Mark Harris, the Deputy Viscount, acting as Coroner.

Advocate Mark Harris, the Deputy Viscount who was acting as Coroner, said that the Inquest had been unable to ascertain the "precise nature of what happened at Le Pinacle Rock." He however added: "There is no evidence that he (Jacob) deliberately jumped and no evidence of his intentions at the time. He may have slipped or fell. We cannot rule out other explanations, he may, or probably did have, a tragic accident. All that we know is that he suffered unsurvivable head and chest injuries consistent with a fall from height."

Mr Forder said that the Environment Department, whom he had spoken to, was open to the idea of improving signage around Le Pinacle, which he described as "treacherous by its very nature." Jacob's mum said she wished to see more signs around the rock to help anyone else walking around the area.