Inquest into the Suspected Death of David Benjamin INGRAM
Inquest into the Suspected Death of David Benjamin INGRAM
Delivered on : 5 May 2025
Delivered at : Perth
Finding of : Deputy State Coroner Linton
Recommendations : N/A
Orders/Rules : N/A
Suppression Order : N/A
Summary : David Benjamin Ingram was last seen alive in the early hours of 24 September 2021. He was working as a deckhand on board a commercial cargo vessel that was operating off the coast of Exmouth. David had boarded the vessel in Dampier on 18 September 2021, where he received the necessary safety instructions prior to being placed on a three-man team working between midnight and midday.
David was scheduled to relieve his colleague for watch duties at 5:00am. When he failed to appear it was assumed he was in his cabin sleeping, which was not uncommon for staff and did not raise any immediate concern. When David had still not returned to work at 8:00am, his colleagues went to his cabin to wake him. Upon discovering he was not in his cabin, the team escalated the situation. The Captain tried to reach David over the public address system, and a general muster was called. A number of full searches of the vessel were then undertaken to no avail.
A large two-day air and sea search was conducted, coordinated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Joint Rescue Coordination Centre. All records indicate the search was very thorough, with weather conditions favourable and a lot of assistance provided from the various vessels in the area. The search was officially called off at midday on 25 September 2021, and the vessel returned to Dampier.
Whilst preparing the mooring lines for arrival into Dampier, crew members found shoe prints on the edge of the rear deck in a location where it was prohibited to stand. Unfortunately, police where unable to confirm if the shoe marks belonged to footwear worn by David.
The Deputy State Coroner was satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt David is deceased and was deceased in relative proximity to the time of his disappearance. The cause of death is unascertained and the Deputy State Coroner made an open finding as to the manner of death.
Catch Words : Long Term Missing Person : Open Finding : Unascertained : Cargo Vessel
Last updated: 23 May 2025