Skip to Main Content
Government of Western Australia State Coat of Arms
Coroner's Court of Western Australia

Government of Western Australia State Coat of Arms
Coroner's Court of Western Australia

Inquest Findings

Home →Inquest Findings→Inquest Findings 2020→Jessen, Barry Ray

Inquest into the Suspected Death of Barry Ray JESSEN

Inquest into the Suspected Death of Barry Ray JESSEN

Delivered on : 2 June 2020

Delivered at : Perth

Finding of : Coroner Vicker

Recommendations : N/A

Orders/Rules : N/A

Suppression Order : N/A

Summary : On the morning of 17 August 2006 Mr Jessen was on board a fishing vessel, following breakfast at about 8.45 am as the vessel was moving to a new fishing ground on conclusion of the overnight work shift. Once at the new fishing ground sometime after 9.00 am Mr Jessen’s friend noticed Mr Jessen was missing there followed an extensive search of the vessel which then retraced its course while calling for assistance from other vessels and emergency services in the area. No sign of Mr Jessen was ever located again.

Mr Jessen was last seen on the back deck where he had a smoke with another crew member. The sea was rocking but not badly. Mr Jessen was then seen to climb a ladder from the back deck up to the next deck. Mr Jessen was not seen again.

Crew members searched for Mr Jessen and the anchor was pulled while the engines were restarted to retrace their course to where Mr Jessen had last been known to be on board. Other vessels in the area were called to come and assist for a man overboard. Other fishing vessels responded and converged on the provided co-ordinates. Police were contacted and a search plan was implemented.

Water Police were contacted and search patterns calculated for the local conditions. The local volunteer Marine Rescue were alerted and they provided their vessel to assist. The search continued into the next day but there was no trace of Mr Jessen.

The Coroner was satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt Mr Jessen is deceased and died within a very short period of falling overboard. The Coroner was satisfied Mr Jessen drowned and that his death occurred by way of misadventure.

Catch Words : Long Term Missing Person : Man Overboard : Sea Search : Misadventure


Last updated: 13-Jul-2020

[ back to top ]

Downloads