Cobb tragedy parents pledge help for RNLI

Lyme fisherman Harry May received a Royal Humane Society award for his attempts to save Claire (Image: Archant)

The parents of a young woman who died when her electric wheelchair plunged into Lyme Regis harbour are returning to the town to raise money for the RNLI

Mark and Paula Perkins, from the West Midlands, have arranged their holiday to coincide with Lifeboat Week and offered to join the team of fundraisers.

Their daughter, Claire, 20, died after her wheelchair fell into the harbour during a family visit on October 7, 2011.

Mrs Perkins said: ‘We will never forget the efforts that so many people made – including the lifeboat crew – to save our daughter on that awful day, and we felt that by helping out during Lifeboat Week we would be saying ‘thank you’ to all those involved.

“We don’t mind what we do, whether it’s helping to sell ducks for the duck race or walking along the seafront with a collection bucket.”

Local fisherman Harry May received a Royal Humane Society award for his attempts to save Claire and members of the lifeboat crew, coastguards and paramedics were among those who also attempted a rescue.

At the inquest into Claire’s death, the West Dorset coroner, Michael Johnston, said the most likely explanation for the accident was that Claire had moved around and caught the electric wheelchair’s joystick.

Responding to Mr and Mrs Perkins’ offer to help during Lifeboat Week, Irene Roper, chairman of the organisers, the local RNLI Guild, said: “We are very touched by their offer, and look forward to welcoming them next month.”

The Perkins family have already made generous donations to the RNLI following the accident.

Lifeboat Week in Lyme Regis takes place from Saturday, July 18, to Saturday, July 25, and organisers have set a fundraising target of £30,000.

Among the many highlights in the programme are the RAF Red Arrows flying in at 5pm on Monday, July 20, and the RAF Falcons parachute display team dropping in on the Friday.