Inquiry Report Into Swan Island Deaths Released

Release Of The Commission Of Inquiry Report Into The Deaths Of Three ADF Members At Swan Island

The Department of Defence today released the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of three Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) personnel in a single vehicle accident at Swan Island in Victoria on 9 April 2007.

The COI examined the deaths of Sergeant Craig Linacre, Corporal Michael McAvoy and Corporal David O’Neill, who were attending a course at the Swan Island Army Detachment at the time of the accident.

The COI found that SGT Linacre, CPL McAvoy and CPL O’Neill died when the vehicle they were travelling in failed to negotiate a right hand curve and ran off the road and into the waters of Swan Bay, near Queenscliff in Victoria. The COI found that none of the soldiers were able to escape, or be removed, from the vehicle before they drowned.

The COI determined that excessive speed was the major contributing factor in the accident. The report also notes all three members recorded blood alcohol levels over 0.05, though it could not be established by the COI, nor the Major Collision Investigation Unit of the Victorian Police, which member was driving the vehicle.

The Commission of Inquiry made 19 findings and 4 recommendations. Defence has agreed to implement all four recommendations.

A copy of the COI report is available for download from the defence website at

http://www.defence.gov.au/coi/index.htm

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