Coroner condemns poorly planned holiday for Ringwood’s Patrick McCabe death

A coroner has found a Phillip Island holiday where a disabled Ringwood man drowned was poorly planned, unfunded and should never have gone ahead.

A coroner has found a Phillip Island holiday where a disabled Ringwood man drowned was poorly planned, unfunded and should never have gone ahead.

Patrick McCabe, 42, was found dead at Ventnor Beach on April 28, 2014 after disappearing the prior afternoon.

He was discovered floating in the water 11km from where he was staying at a beach house in Silverleaves.

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Coroner Peter White handed down his findings into Mr McCabe’s death in the Coroner’s Court of Victoria on Tuesday.

The four-day holiday was organised by service provider Wesley Mission, now part of Uniting Victoria, and all expenses had to be met by participants and staff as there was no funding.

It was attended by two staff members along with Mr McCabe and three of his friends, and their accommodation was 200m from the beach.

Mr McCabe, who had prader-willi syndrome and symptoms of obsessive behaviour, was a former swimmer in the Special Olympics.

Documents released by the court found Wesley Mission did not inspect the holiday house for its suitability beforehand.

The documents also stated one of the supervisory staff was banished by a co-ordinator for calling the police to help search for Mr McCabe without getting her prior approval.

In his findings, Coroner White said: “A series of management errors in pre-planning and risk management” contributed to Mr McCabe’s death and it could have been prevented.

Philip Island is a popular holiday destination.

Coroner White also said it should have been clear that allocating two staffers to look after the four men “was never likely to be sufficient”.

He also noted Wesley Mission appeared to now undertake fewer client holidays within the organisation since Mr McCabe’s death.

Speaking outside of court, Mr McCabe’s sister Fiona Kelly said she felt the findings were inconclusive but hoped she could move on from her brother’s death.

Wesley Mission conducted an independent review after Mr McCabe’s death and passed on the findings to the Coroner in 2016.

In a statement after Tuesday’s hearing, Uniting chief executive Paul Linossier said the organisation would review the Coroner’s findings and continue to offer opportunities for client holidays.

“We will put in place a process of regular review that ensures that the best possible systems are in place to ensure safe and rewarding holiday experiences,” he said.

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