A young seaman who was killed when he stayed aboard a burning oil tanker to try to lower a lifeboat to save his shipmates has been praised for his courage. At an inquest in Cork convened on the Attorney General's instructions, the coroner, Mr Frank O'Connell, praised Mr David Cox (25) from Myrtleville, Co Cork, for his sacrifice in trying to save people on British Trent.
"Mr Cox showed great bravery and selflessness - you can be very proud," Mr O'Connell told his parents, Alban and May Cox. "He put himself at risk for the benefit of the others when he stayed on board to lower the lifeboat and he paid the ultimate sacrifice." He returned a verdict of death due to drowning following the inhalation of toxic fumes after he jumped overboard following a shipping collision.