Adventure companies face new safety rules after young girl died

[Scunner]

Members will remember the tragic story of Cerys Potter who died white water rafting after Seaside Tours in Calis sold her father the excursion even though they knew Cerys was too young for it (in fact after her tragic death Seaside Tours sold the excursion to a similar 'family' which turned out to be an undercover reporter from The Guardian Newspaper). Directors of the rafting company received jail sentences for their part.

Well, if there is a silver lining at all, new rules will perhaps try and prevent it happening again.

"Adventure companies could be forced to adhere to stricter safety rules after a schoolgirl was tragically killed in a rafting accident in Turkey, an inquest has heard. Nine-year-old Cerys Potter died on a family holiday white-water rafting on a river where nine other tourists have previously drowned in rapids.

Today, a coroner told the inquest into her death he may call on the government to consider the introduction of more stringent safety guidelines to ensure greater protection. Cerys’ parents are campaigning for new controls on white water rafting on the Dalaman river, where the schoolgirl was killed.

Her father Terry Potter told the hearing: 'There are wider public issues highlighted by Cerys’ death. We feel very strongly there are public interest questions which need to be asked. We’ve put together a lot of evidence about the circumstances of the rafting industry in Turkey.'

Cerys died when her raft capsized in rapids on a perilous stretch of the river near the Aegean Sea. "

Full Story - Daily Mail

[Jacqui Harvey]

Rules may be changed in the U.K. but they will not be changed in Turkey.   Just how many people take their kids on Jeep Safaris, Horse Riding, Quad Biking and Paragliding.   I have read so many posting on T.A. from people advising parents just what fun these Turkish pursuits are.   Only recently read one parent asking were there child seats on Jeep Safaris for her child who will be 18 months old when they travel.

[Scunner]

The problem is that nothing comes before money - so the child is too young at 9 years old - Seaside Tours must have been sweating at the thought of losing the rest of the family booking so turned a blind eye. Then, full in the knowledge they sold a ticket that directly caused a child's death, they did the same again to undercover reporters from the UK.

Same with the repulsive dolphin tank in Hisaronu - while so many tour shops refused to sell tickets, some couldn't restrain themselves and put a few quid over the plight of the animals (and the plight of customers going to 'swim' in water full of dolphin poo). It seems to me that they will always find a way around it if there is a few lira to be made. That's just the way it is over there.

Jail sentences and licenses being revoked is a step in the right direction - but this is all addressing the companies that provide the excursion, while those who sell the excursion can carry on doing so, and experience shows will do so.