The Coroner

Falmouth Coastguard calling Angel Cove Lifeboat.

Distress flare sighted one mile west of Seal Island.

Besides, what difference would an early night have made?

We're both on call day or night, that's the whole... point.

What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor?

Right, what's the shout? Red flare reported over Seal Island.

Someone's in trouble, that's all we know.

What time do you call this? The middle of the night.

Jake, hurry up. Come on!

Go, go, go, go, go!

OK, stay safe, everyone!

Angel Cove Lifeboat, this is Falmouth Coastguard.

Can you give me your current position, please? Over.

Roger that. We're nearly there. Over.

Phillip, bring the lamp to port.

Erica, to starboard!

Hold on!

Nice night for it!

This is hopeless!

Just keep at it.

Angel Cove Lifeboat, this is Falmouth Coastguard.

Can we have an update on your search, please? Over.

Falmouth Coastguard, this is Angel Cove Lifeboat.

We have completed a search and found nothing.

I'm confident that it's another hoax call. Over.

Roger that. Happy for you to stand down and return to station. Over.

Turn her around! I'll get them in.

We're turning back!

Phil! Phillip!

Erica! Erica!

Time-wasting idiots!

Man overboard! Man overboard! Port-side!

Port-side!

Erica! Chrissy?! Chrissy?!

Falmouth Coastguard, this is Angel Cove Lifeboat.

We have two crew members washed overboard. Over.

Angel Cove Lifeboat, this is Falmouth Coastguard.

Copy that and standing by. Do you require assistance?

Repeat. Do you require assistance? Over.

Angel Cove Lifeboat, are you receiving me? Over.

Yeah.

Can you take a photo of that?

Just the rip, yeah? Yeah. Thanks. Thank you.

Chrissy? I'm Jane Kennedy, the coroner. How are you feeling?

Like someone just died.

Look, we don't have to do this right now, if you don't want to.

Let's get it over with. You sure? Mm.

Could you talk me through what happened last night?

The coastguard reported a distress flare just after 2:00am.

So we went out on the shout, but we drew a blank.

There's, um... there's nothing unusual in that.

Around about half of our callouts tend to be wild-goose chases.

So... Erica was operating the front searchlight

and I went to tell her we were turning the boat around.

We had one last look to see if there was any vessel,

or bodies in the water.

There were waves coming over the deck and the next thing I knew,

we were both in the water.

And you don't remember how it happened?

No.

How's your eye?

Eh?

It's quite a bruise you've got there.

Yeah. It's the least of my worries.

Look, I've got a lot to do. I need to be getting on.

Chrissy?

I don't think that's a good idea.

Looks like an accident.

Yeah. They were obviously washed overboard. Then I found this.

Oh, here we go. What's that?

A small tear in Erica's life jacket.

Almost invisible to the naked eye, but large enough to prevent it

from fully inflating when she hit the water.

Well, cases like this are automatically referred

to my friends at The Marine Accident Investigation Branch.

They're very thorough.

The skipper can't remember how she ended up in the sea.

What if one of the other crewmembers pushed her and Erica over the side?

And what if, and this is just a wild stab in the dark,

they were washed overboard(?)

OK, look, if you want a motive, how about this?

In January, Chrissy Woodward became the first female lifeboat cox

in Devon's history, and the first thing she did was promote Erica.

Oh, come on! Davey, I'm serious! I know you are.

But things have moved on, haven't they?

Ever since Emmeline Pankhurst chained herself to them railings,

we've got female police officers, female world leaders.

I believe we've even got a female coroner.

Jane, come on, no-one cares.

What, so, you're not going to talk to her? No.

I'm not going to go looking for trouble. That's your department. Thanks(!)

Shut the door!

Oh, yeah, I've known Chrissy for years.

I was her mentor when she first volunteered.

And what were your impressions?

He does Sean Connery

and a surprisingly good Russell Harty.

What that girl don't know about sailing, you could fit on a postage stamp.

She was 17 when she won Lighthaven Regatta.

And within two weeks of working on the boat crew, she was teaching me.

So, you weren't surprised when you heard she was the new skipper?

Nah. Andy was training her up to take over.

His doctor had already told him that he didn't have long,

you know, cos of his drinking.

Mind you, not everyone was pleased with the promotion.

Old Bob Fountain was spitting nails when he found out.

Why?

Well, Bob's the longest-serving crew member.

You know, he thought his experience entitled him to the top job.

He wouldn't have been any good at it, though.

I mean, you need people skills to run a boat crew.

Bob may be many things, but a diplomat he ain't.

Oi! Go easy on the ham. I don't know if I bought enough.

If the mourners want more, they'll have to buy it off the bar menu.

If you don't mind me asking, why did you quit the boat?

I thought I was pushing my luck, to be honest.

You can only look death in the face so many times.

He failed his medical.

They thought you were too chubby, didn't they?

Ooo, that flipping car alarm!

It is useless.

Oh! Mum, I ought to go, if that's all right?

It's all right, love. Thanks for your help.

Come on!

Oh! Oi! Oi!

Mick! What's happened?!

Did you get a look at him? No. Who was he? I don't know.

Oh, my God, Mick, are you all right?

I'm going to call an ambulance! No, don't fuss, woman, I'm all right.

Let's get you up.

Oh! Oh!

Blimey, what happened to you?

Someone clocked him one last night in the pub car park.

Who'd do something like that? They didn't leave a forwarding address(!)

Snuck up behind me, like a thief in the night.

Well, they probably were. Eh?

A thief. If they were in your car park.

I told you he wouldn't take it seriously.

It's no wonder the country's in the state it is!

Well, I could take it seriously, couldn't I? You ask Jane.

I could take it very seriously.

I could insist you install some CCTV outside your premises,

record any suspicious activity.

Well, I mean, it's... The only problem with that is,

you might not like what we find.

Shall we?

Thanks, Davey(!) Cheers, mate(!)

And now, Phillip would like to say a few words.

Anyone who knew Erica Ryland associated her with love.

Hm! Hm.

As her partner for seven... unforgettable years,

I was privileged to feel the full force of that love.

Whether we were praying in a Buddhist temple,

diving to the bottom of the ocean,

or relaxing in this very church,

we were inseparable.

Togetherness.

That's a precious thing.

After all, some people in this world

never get close to anyone.

Mr Mitchell? I'm Jane Kennedy, the coroner.

I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about the accident.

I just wonder if you saw anything.

What were you doing at the time?

I'm the helm.

Right. So, you steer the boat?

Hm. What?

Sorry, I'd better take this.

Let me guess... you're fascinated by the macabre.

What?

Well, I mean, your hair, your clothes.

You dress like someone just died.

Someone just did.

Ah! Good point.

You OK?

Oh, no. But thanks for asking.

Can I sit down? Sure.

I tell you, it was a catastrophe just waiting to happen.

Women at sea are unlucky.

Especially if they're at sea with you, eh, Bob? Huh!

And a woman who whistles, that's even worse.

Now, that Erica, she used to whistle in the lifeboat station.

Well, that's just asking for trouble.

A whistling woman and a crowing hen brings the devil out of his den.

Oh, give it a rest, Fountain!

No-one's interested in your ignorant drivel.

Can I get another one, please? Of course.

Oh, is that right, Mr University-Educated-Car-Mechanic?

Yeah, and...?

I'll tell you what's ignorant.

That's you pretending you and Erica were inseparable

when the whole town knows she was sick to death of you.

Bob? That's enough.

This is neither the time or place. We've lost one of our own.

Erica was a loyal friend. She was a brilliant second cox,

and Phillip loved her. So show some respect.

That was Forensics.

It turns out Erica's life jacket may have been tampered with.

So you do need to speak to the skipper now. Yeah, looks that way.

Chrissy?