Scout Association 'truly sorry' after boy, 16, plunged to his death

• Ben Leonard died from a head injury in August 2018 when he fell during a trip 

The Scout Association has said it is ‘truly sorry’ for negligence after a boy was killed after plunging 200ft during a hike.

Ben Leonard, 16, from Stockport, Manchester, died of a serious head injury after falling off the Great Orme in Llandudno, Wales, while on a three-day expedition with the Reddish Explorer Scouts on August 26 2018 after being left ‘unsupervised’.

A jury inquest in February concluded that Ben had been ‘unlawfully killed’ by the Explorer Scouts leader, Sean Glaister, and assistant leader, Mary Carr, and found that neglect of the Scouts Association was a contributing factor.

In a scathing prevention of future deaths report, assistant coroner David Pojur said the volunteers did not understand basic safety procedures.

In the 20-point list, he also said the association ‘created a misleading impression’ in its evidence in regards to its action during the trip.

Ben Leonard, 16, from Stockport, Manchester, died of a serious head injury after falling off the Great Orme in Llandudno, Wales, while on an expedition with the Reddish Explorer Scouts

A jury inquest concluded that Ben had been ‘unlawfully killed’ by the Explorer Scouts leader, Sean Glaister, and assistant leader, Mary Carr

The association has now issued a grovelling statement from chair of the board Jennie Price, chief executive Matt Hyde, and UK chief volunteer Carl Hankinson in response to the report in which they expressed their ‘wholehearted apology to the Leonard family’.

Other deaths linked to the Scouts group 

1993

Adult Venture scout Andrew Hindley, 23, Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, fell 2,000ft down Jungfrau, Switzerland. Inquest verdict: Unknown

1995

Lee Craddock, 11, fell 360ft while at Britain’s deepest pothole, Gaping Ghyll in North Yorkshire. His parents later sued the Scouts Association.

1997

Jack Sudds, eight, drowned in a swimming pool at a Scout camp in Crowborough, East Sussex. Inquest verdict: Misadventure.

1999

Jonathan Attwell, 10, fell 600ft to his death on his first outdoor Scout trip to Snowdon, North Wales. Inquest verdict: Accidental.

2000

Jamie Chambers, 15, died after being hit by boulders on Little Tryfan, a spur of Snowdon. Inquest verdict: Misadventure.

2010

Scout leader Stephen Young, 18, died when he fell through a snow shelf on Creag Meagaidh in the Scottish Highlands. Inquest verdict: Unknown.

2014

Elliot Peacock, 14, died during a gorge scrambling expedition with the Scouts in Italy. Inquest verdict: Unknown.

‘Both for the death of their Ben, and for the anguish we recognise they have experienced over the past five and a half years,’ they said.

‘It was not the intention of anyone at Scouts to contribute towards any further pain, but we recognise that we have caused further distress and for that we are truly sorry.

‘Keeping young people safe from harm remains our number one priority at Scouts.’

The organisation said it was ‘committed to learning’ and had already made changes to risk assessments, safety rules, and training and support to volunteers.

They said they are making ‘fundamental changes’ to their approach to safety and a ‘fatal accident investigation panel’ with an external chair and independent members had been set up for Ben’s death. It is due for completion in June.

The Sunday Times reported the association admitted that online training modules were able to be completed in 12 minutes, but people would now no longer to ‘click through’ the material.

Ben had been left ‘unsupervised’ with two other Scouts on the grassy tops of the Great Orme, a 679ft (207m) headland on the north coast of Wales, according to the coroner’s report.

Thinking he could see a quicker way down, Ben began his descent when he suddenly slipped and fell off the cliff.

On the day of Ben’s death ‘no brief, instructions or written risk assessment was done’, the court heard.

His older brother, Thomas, 26, told the Times: ‘They should have never let it get to this position in the first place. There’s a blind faith where they say, “We’re the Scouts, trust us”. How can we trust what they say?’

‘In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken,’ Mr Pojur, assistant coroner for North Wales, concluded in his report.

Ben’s grief-stricken mother Jackie Leonard, 54, previously told MailOnline her son’s death had a ‘devastating impact’ on her family and that the organisation needs to be regulated by an external body to be ‘made safe’ and prevent more children from dying.

Ben had been left ‘unsupervised’ with two other Scouts on the grassy tops of the Great Orme

Ben was on a trip with the Reddish Explorer Scouts when he sustained a fatal head injury falling from the beauty spot. Pictured: The Great Orme in Llandudno, North Wales

The inquest heard that Ben could have been saved if he had been given ‘basic’ instructions

Ben (right) with his father, Dave, 57, mother, Jackie, 54, and older brother Tom, 26

Pictured: Ben’s mother Jackie and his father Dave. Jackie previously told MailOnline her son’s death had a ‘devastating impact’ on her family and that the organisation needs to be regulated by an external body

Jackie has now joined forces with the families of Lee Craddock, Scott Fanning and Roy Thornton, who died on Scouting expeditions in 1995, 1998 and 1999 respectively, to demand the Government launch a public inquiry into the organisation’s ‘training and policies’, as well as establish an external regulator.

READ MORE – Scout, 16, who died after falling from cliffs could have been saved if even ‘basic’ instructions given, inquest hears 

Jackie said that under Mr Hyde’s leadership the association had ‘failed’ in its number one priority, to keep children safe.

Jackie said: ‘The impact is devastating on the whole family, I do think that in their 100-plus-year history, this is their darkest time.

‘Like with the Post Office, it’s a David and Goliath situation where you’ve got this worldwide organisation and then you’ve got some families who are trying to get change.

‘We don’t want to see Scouts abolished or anything like that, because there are a lot of good people in Scouting doing good work and a lot of children that get enjoyment from it.

‘My Ben enjoyed it, but it needs to be made safe and that’s why we just want to see them regulated by an outside body, like schools and other activity centres.’

Mr Hyde announced in March that he will be stepping down after 11 years of service to head the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales but will remain in post until September 2024.

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