John Gray family calls after Felixstowe promenade death

Maxine White, daughter of John Gray, said she would like a form of rubber barrier to be installed along Felixstowe promenade so mobility scooters, pushchairs and bikes could not go over the edge on to the beach.

Last week, this newspaper reported how Suffolk's senior coroner Nigel Parsley had called on East Suffolk Council to take action to prevent future deaths after an inquest heard how 76-year-old Mr Gray's scooter had plunged five feet on to the beach in an area unprotected by barriers.

READ MORE: East Suffolk Council reviews risk on Felixstowe prom

The July 2022 incident, which happened on a section of promenade close to the resort's Spa Pavilion theatre, resulted in Mr Gray suffering multiple rib fractures leading to breathing difficulties.

He died in Ipswich Hospital a short time afterwards.

Mr Parsley's report highlighted evidence presented at Mr Gray's inquest that in other high risk locations with persistent long drops or drops onto concrete or rock sea defences, barriers were installed for safety.

Mr Parsley said: "In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you or your organisation have the power to take any such action you identify."

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

Maxine White with her father John Gray (Image: Submitted)Ms White said: "I just don't want anybody else to get hurt and I know that dad would not want that either.

"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."

READ MORE: Felixstowe news

She wanted rubber stops as these would be less obtrusive to people's enjoyment of the promenade and beach than other types of barrier.

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.

An earlier photo of John Gray (far left) with family (Image: Submitted)He used to run the Forum fish and chip restaurant on the town's seafront, which is now Saltwater fish and chips.

His daughter said he had always had a love of Felixstowe because his late sister Sandra lived there and moved to the town in 1999.

She added: "He was a very sociable guy. He loved getting out and about. He could not sit at home and the mobility scooter was really important to him.

"It was vital to his life that he had the scooter because he could get out and about and see everyone."

Following the coroner's report, East Suffolk Council pledged to continually review all risk assessments on land it is responsible for.

A council spokesperson said: “We welcome the report from the coroner, which we will respond to in full and our thoughts are with those close to Mr Gray following this tragic accident.

“We continually review all risk assessments for land which the council is responsible for and we are identifying what further appropriate measures should be put in place to help ensure the safety of all users of the promenade."