LBC/IRN · London Broadcasting Company

Title

Marchioness disaster-identification problems

Genre

News report; Interview

TX Date

22 Aug 1989

Year of production

1989

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Duration

00:02:07

Description

Simon Israel reports on the death toll after the sinking of the Marchioness pleasure boat following a collision with the dredger Bowbelle, on the River Thames in London (20/08/89). The police officer in charge of the investigation told the first inquest to open since the tragedy some bodies may never be recovered. Detective Chief Superintendent Michael Purchase said 31 people are still missing and there are serious problems with identification with only 16 bodies so far identified. 51 of the 130 passengers died. Includes interview with coroner Paul Knapman.

Contributors

Simon Israel; Paul Knapman

Keywords

Deaths; London; River Thames; Boats; Inquests; Identity; Disasters (events); Dead bodies; Marchioness; Bowbelle; Marchioness disaster (1989)

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