A entrepreneur was killed when a 20ft rotten tree crashed down on top of him after he tied a hammock-style tent to it during a family camping trip, an inquest heard.
Ryan O’Carroll, 25, was fatally injured in the freak accident as he camped with his 11-year-old brother and wife Stephanee Leal-Sanchez at the 250 acre Tehidy Country Park on August 10 last year.
Ryan, Stephanee and Nick had driven down to Cornwall from their home in Southampton to go surfing in Newquay.
Ryan O’Carroll, 25, was fatally injured in the freak accident as he camped illegally with his 11-year-old brother and wife Stephanee Leal-Sanchez at the 250 acre Tehidy Country Park last August
After the group arrived at the park at 11pm, Ryan, who founded Yo Telecom, which provides digital phone systems, used a phone torch to help him erect the tent nine feet above the ground – 4ft higher than was recommended.
Nick got in it, followed by recruitment consultant Stephanie, but as she was halfway in and being supported by Ryan, the tree collapsed after ratchet straps put pressure on it.
Ryan was trapped by the rotten tree which landed on his head and body and suffered skull and facial fractures, while Natalie fell to the ground and was knocked unconscious.
Stephanee was trapped in the tent but Nick was able to get out and using a torch flagged down motorist Natalie Jupp who was driving home with members of her family.
Her son Daniel, 19, got out of the car and investigated what had happened.
Natalie told the inquest: Daniel shouted ‘mum, it’s a tree. I need your help to lift it off him’.
Natalie said she noticed the tent had been attached to three trees in a triangular fashion by ratchet ties.
They were able to free Stephanee, but couldn’t release Ryan until one of Daniel’s friends Timmy Kneebone arrived to help and the group lift the tree off Ryan.
Natalie said he was unresponsive and there was no pulse. She carried out CPR and helped paramedics when they arrived, until they found a heartbeat.
Ryan was taken to Treliske before being transferred to the major trauma unit at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth but died on August 12.
The causes of death were given as multiple organ failure, cardiac arrest and dramatic brain injury.
The inquest heard Ryan’s injuries were unsurvivable.
Sean Oates, the investigating team’s manager, told the inquest that public camping wasn’t permitted at Tehidy and there were notices saying as much in the car park.
Ryan was killed when a 20ft rotten tree (pictured) crashed down on top of him after he tied a hammock-style tent to it
A stock image of a hammock-style tent which is not the one involved in the accident
Two countryside officers, who covered Tehidy, were aware the 30-year-old ash tree, which had not been recorded as a hazard had been dead for at least three growing seasons but it was deemed a low risk and not a subsequent danger.
The Forestry Commission advises that all dead trees not seen as a risk should be allowed to stand, but this assessment does not take into account the erection of aerial tents on trees.
The inquest heard that there was nothing wrong with the tent, which was made by Tentsile Tree Tents and Hammocks, and that its ratchet straps put pressure on the leverage of the rotten tree.
The jury recorded a verdict of accidental death. No family attended the inquest.
Ian Arrow, senior coroner for Plymouth, said: ‘I’d like to pay tribute to members of the Jupp family who assisted on the night. It must have been very stressful for them.
‘It must have been a terrible shock to Ryan’s family and I send them my condolences.’
Ryan was a director and co-founder of award-winning firm Yo Telecom.
Shortly after his death his wife Stephanee paid tribute and said: ‘You changed my life, I became a better person because of you, you loved me unconditionally and you inspired me everyday.’
Natalie then began prolonged CPR before paramedics arrived and took over, finding a pulse and Ryan was rushed to hospital but died the next morning in Plymouth;s Derriford Hospital.
His cause of death was multi organ failure, a heart attack and traumatic brain injury.
Mrs Jupp had told the coroner in a statement:’We tried to lift the tree but it was just too heavy. The ties looked to have been nine feet high in the trees.’
Sean Oates, health and safety adviser with Cornwall Council, said the park was owned and managed by the council and the ash tree in question was around 30 years old.
He told the inquest jury:’The country park prohibits pubic camping. There is a designated area but not for members of the public but pre arranged camping like schools. Any unofficial campers are asked to move on.’
He said the trees are regularly inspected but he said the ash tree was assessed as low risk – even though it had been dead for three growing seasons.
Mr Oates said dead trees are left to remain standing if there is no risk of them falling.
He agreed with the coroner that ‘on the balance of probabilities one of the trees was rotten’ and that the tent straps had been attached too high which increased the leverage on the rotten tree.
The inquest heard the straps were nine feet high when they should have been no more than four feet off the ground.
Det Con Rebekah Shorten said the trio were going to sleep in the hammock style tent.
She said it was suspended between three trees and Ryan checked the ties before helping his young brother into it – and as he helped his wife in, the tree suddenly toppled on top of him.
Stephanee was knocked unconscious as she struck the ground and was trapped inside the tent but Nick managed to scramble clear and ran off to raise the alert.
The Tehidy Country Park in Cornwall where Ryan was fatally injured when a rotten tree fell on him
DC Shorten said:’Stephanee was stuck in the tent and could not get out.’
She was released with a swollen lip injury as paramedics worked so save her husband.
PC Sally Freeman said in a statement:’One of the three trees was rotten and collapsed under the weight of the tent. His death was an accident.’
She said the tent was erected in a non designated camping area which she said was ‘clearly signposted’.
The inquest was told business owner Ryan, his wife Stephanee Leal-Sanchez and his 11-year-old brother Nick travelled to Cornwall from Southampton on August 10 last year for a surfing holiday.
After the tragedy Stephanee wrote about Ryan saying:’The day I met you was the best day of my life. You changed my life, I became a better person because of you, you loved me unconditionally and you inspired me every day.’
Ryan’s mother Giselle said:’In all his 25 years Ryan lived his life to the fullest. Going to more places than most 80 year olds and doing more things than most 80 year olds have done.’
The inquest jury returned an accidental death conclusion.
The ten strong jury recorded:’Ryan O’Carroll erected the aerial tent in the dark with limited light from a phone torch. The tent was anchored between three trees close to the car park.
‘As two family members entered the tent, one of the trees anchoring the tent collapsed on top of Ryan, striking him on the head and trapping him underneath.’
Coroner Ian Arrow praised the efforts of the Jupp family and said it must have been a ‘terrible shock’ for the O’Carroll family sayiing:’This was not what they were expecting to happen that night.’
A jury inquest had to take place under law because a government agency, in this case Cornwall Council, had investigated the incident.