Tragic end: Grandfather drowns near SS Vina shipwreck while exploring with granddaughter
Raymond Mills, 74, had walked to the shipwreck of the SS Vina at Brancaster Beach in Norfolk with his granddaughter - but got into difficulties after being caught in the tide
A holidaymaker died after he got caught out by the tide as he explored a shipwreck with his grandchild, an inquest has heard.
Raymond Mills, 74, was on a day out at Brancaster beach in Norfolk and had carefully planned his trip out to the SS Vina. He got into difficulties in the strong currents near the vessel - a notorious area known as Wreck Sands - and disappeared beneath the water.
His granddaughter was able to get back to safety and a search operation was launched. Mr Mills, from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, was found in the water by a helicopter around an hour later. He was flown to Norwich Airport to be transferred to an ambulance but was pronounced dead shortly after the aircraft landed.
At an inquest into his death, held this week at Norfolk Coroner’s Court, Mr Mills’ family said there should be additional safety measures at the beach, which is owned by the National Trust. They called for the wreck to be removed and more warning signs to be put in place highlighting the dangers.
The hearing was told how the safety-conscious Mr Mills had meticulously researched his expedition to the SS Vina. The ship sank in 1944 while being used as target practice for the RAF and lies about 800 metres off the main beach, exposed at low water.
The retired engineer and his wife Jacqueline were on the first day of their holiday in Norfolk with their three grandchildren. The group were staying at Hunstanton but travelled to Brancaster for the day, on August 17, 2024. Mrs Mills, a retired teaching assistant, told the inquest: “Ray was greatly looking forward to taking our three grandchildren away to Norfolk.
“He had promised they would try and see the shipwreck on Brancaster beach. He researched the tide times, aware that the wreck was only visible for short times. Ray was super careful about any undertaking, always finding a solution to any problem and would never knowingly put himself or anyone else in danger.”
Jordan Grebby, from HM Coastguard, told the inquest in a report that the first 999 call reporting a man had gone under water was received at around 1.30pm. The initial 999 call had come from a bystander who had not actually witnessed the incident but said Mr Mills had last been seen opposite the wreck.
At almost 2pm, a further 999 call was received from another member of the public who was with a young child – believed to be Mr Mills’ granddaughter. Minutes later, Mrs Mills made contact with 999 and she was able to confirm that her husband had gone to look at the wreck with the child, before the child had returned to the shore “in a panic”.
Mrs Mills went on to say that while he could swim, he was “not a very good swimmer and was not overly familiar with the Brancaster area”. At around 2.30pm, the coastguard’s helicopter located Mr Mills and recovered him from the water. Life-saving attempts were started onboard and he was flown to Norwich Airport.
A critical care team from the East Anglian Air Ambulance was waiting there, but Mr Mills was pronounced dead. Mrs Mills told the court: "Ray was my rock. We’d been together for 53 years and married almost 49 of those. He retired in January 2018, and we’d hoped to have many more happy years together. He was an engineer and his practical skills knew no bounds.
“The high point of any day was getting a visit from the grandchildren, who he absolutely adored. His heath was generally good, with some of the usual problems associated with getting older. He would never let any difficulties stop him doing what he wanted to do."
Samantha Goward, the area coroner, read from a post mortem report carried out by consultant histopathologist Dr Xenia Tyler which said that Mr Mills had a heart condition which may have contributed to the tragedy. Mrs Goward explained how Dr Tyler had found that Mr Mills was suffering from a condition called atherosclerosis, a gradual build-up of plaque in the walls of arteries, in his main coronary artery.
The report said: “Although this causes narrowing of the [arteries], it is not sufficient to be considered severe. Exposure to cold water however may well have caused a spasm of this artery, producing further narrowing... in turn causing a fatal cardiac dysrhythmia.
“It is not possible to determine the exact time of death in relation to the disappearance of the deceased beneath the surface of the water. It is therefore possible that drowning also played a part in causing death.”
Describing Mr Mills as “a careful gentleman who wouldn’t take risks”, Mrs Goward said: “It does seem to me, on the balance of probabilities, that the cold water caused some sort of issue with Ray’s heart. That, combined with going under the water, led to an element of drowning being a contributing factor.”
She concluded that he died due to an “accident caused by underlying natural causes”. Mr Mill’s wife has called for the removal of the SS Vina. She said: “It is abundantly clear to me that the very real dangers of the wreck area are not clearly signed. Much more needs to be done warning the public of this. Maybe holiday resorts should make visitors aware just how fatal the wreck area can be.
“I think the wreck should be totally removed, taking away forever this incredibly dangerous attraction, thereby ensuring no other family has to live with the same tragedy our family has endured.” The National Trust provided the coroner with photographs of warning signs in place on the beach.
However, the family claim they only saw one on the day of the tragedy, which told them not to feed the birds. Mrs Mills said that the signage at the location was “not sufficient for warnings”. Her daughter-in-law, Caroline Mills - who’s daughter accompanied Mr Mills out to the wreck - told the inquest: “He was a very careful person who would never have taken any risks, and - from what he was saying to my daughter - he was panicking that maybe he had got into a situation that was beyond his ability.
“So I think he’d have been looking out for things like signs and warnings. And if there had been a life buoy on the boat, he may have considered [using] it." Mrs Goward said she would be writing to the National Trust for clarification and may issue a Prevention of Future Deaths report.
Previously, the National Trust said: “We’re mindful that Brancaster Beach does not have a lifeguard presence and is a beach that experiences a fast-flowing tidal range, with potential hazards in the water such as the SS Vina shipwreck and wartime relics.”
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