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Man Drowned After Being Swept Out To Sea From Pier
3 Nov
Summary
- Fred Croot, 39, tragically drowned after being swept out to sea.
- He fell from Cromer Pier after a strong wave knocked him from a beam.
- The deceased had a history of mental illness, including schizophrenia and autism.
A tragic incident occurred on May 11 when Fred Croot, aged 39, fell from a support beam beneath Cromer Pier and was swept out to sea. A powerful wave knocked him into the water around 6:30 PM, leading to his drowning. Emergency services were alerted, and the coastguard helicopter located him at 7:25 PM.
The inquest at Norfolk Coroner's Court heard details about Mr. Croot's personal history. He lived with schizophrenia and autism and had a documented history of mental illness. This included a period where he went missing for four days in August 2023 and a subsequent overdose on co-codamol, after which he was placed in a residential care home named Sunny Court.
A chef from a nearby restaurant witnessed the event. He reported seeing Mr. Croot standing in ankle-deep water on framework under the pier during extremely windy and wet conditions. A large wave struck Mr. Croot, prompting the chef to attempt a rescue with a lifebuoy, but another wave obscured him from view.
