'Warning Sudden drop' signs created after John Gray's death

Staff from East Suffolk Council visited Felixstowe promenade on Tuesday to create the signs bearing the words "Warning Sudden drop" in an effort to improve safety after 76-year-old John Gray plunged five feet off the edge and on to the beach in July 2022.

The provision of the signs along the edge of the sea wall is aimed at securing the safety of users of scooters, pushchairs and bikes.

READ MORE: Work to prevent a repeat of scooter death on Felixstowe prom

Following an inquest into Mr Gray's death close to the Spa Pavilion theatre, Suffolk's senior coroner Nigel Parsley called on the council to take action to prevent future deaths.

Mr Gray suffered multiple rib fractures which led to breathing difficulties and died in Ipswich Hospital a short time afterwards.

In January, Mr Gray's daughter Maxine White backed the coroner's calls for improved safety measures.

John Gray's scooter came off the edge of Felixstowe promenade (Image: Charlotte Bond) She said: "I just don't want anybody else to get hurt and I know that dad would not want that either.

READ MORE: John Gray's scooter plummeted 5ft off Felixstowe promenade

"There are a lot of elderly people in Felixstowe that use those scooters and there should be something in place to stop it happening again."

The council had proposed a series of measures to prevent a repeat, including providing guard rails or other physical features, such as corduroy paving, either along the full length of the promenade edge or at particularly high risk points, such as entrance points or ramps where falls are on to rocks or hard surfaces.

Mr Gray, who was originally from Leicester, was living in sheltered housing in Gosford Way in Felixstowe at the time of the incident and was making his regular journey to get some breakfast at the Greggs café in the town centre.

He used to run the Forum fish and chip restaurant on the town's seafront, which is now Saltwater fish and chips.

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