A tragic Angus marine’s name will be etched on a memorial to fallen comrades which he helped build.
The news that Ralph Hebden’s memory is to be immortalised at 45 Commando’s Woodland’s Memorial Garden in Arbroath comes after a coroner judged his death was accidental.
During a sitting at Liverpool Coroner’s Court, Andre Rebello recorded the cause of death as “salt water drowning,” saying he was “satisfied on the balance of probability, and even more than that, that Ralph’s death was a tragic accident”.
The Crown Office yesterday confirmed there is to be no fatal accident inquiry into the death of the Arbroath 32-year-old, who was found dead at cliffs outside the town around a week after the birth of his daughter Evie-May whom he never met.
Arbroath safety campaigner Kevin Barthorpe, whose 11-year-old daughter Nicole tragically fell to her death from the same cliffs in 2003, said he would back any further investigation that could expose the full dangers of the area.
Mr Barthorpe said he feels vindicated by the coroner’s verdict which noted that the “edge of the cliff was not secure or roped off in any way”.
“I think a fatal accident inquiry would have been an excellent thing, to be honest,” he said.
“It is high time something was done about it (the cliffs) and I would certainly have backed an inquiry, if that’s what his wife wanted.
“I don’t think the coroner’s verdict will bring her closure because she has lost somebody that she loves. Even now we still think about Nicole and it still hurts.”
Mr Rebello said it was “more likely than not” that the extreme cold and poor visibility caused Mr Hebden to fall into the sea with fatal consequences.
He urged the Arbroath serviceman’s family to cherish their memories of his life.
“It really, really is important, particularly for his little girl, that his life is remembered,” he said.
“She must grow up knowing her dad and being proud of her dad for the selfless occupation he took on behalf his Queen and his country.”
Funds collected in Mr Hebden’s memory will be donated to the Woodland Trust which built and maintains the garden at RM Condor.
His name will be added to a stone in the Remembrance Garden on the base on June 9. Mr Hebden was laid to rest at the Church of Our Lady and St Nicholas, in Liverpool city centre, with full military honours.
The marine’s wife Sarah gave birth just 10 days after he was reported missing. A passer-by spotted Mr Hebden’s body in the sea at the foot of the cliffs three weeks after his disappearance on March 11.
An Angus Council spokeswoman said: “Angus Council has, and continues, to work with local land owners and partner organisations to maintain the Angus coastline.”