Scout Association says it is 'truly sorry' for negligence after boy, 16, was ... trends now
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'.
'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.'
