Collins v Lawrence – Court of Appeal (Hamblen LJ) [2017] EWCA Civ 2268 – 23 November 2017

Practice – Limitation of time – Athens Convention 1974 – Claimant passenger disembarking from boat after fishing trip – Claimant slipping on plywood board placed on shingle at foot of freestanding steps – Claimant bringing personal injury action against boat owner – Whether accident occurred while in course of disembarkation – Whether claim time-barred

On 14 November 2010 the claimant went on a sea fishing trip on a boat owned by the defendant. On the boat’s return to Deal, Kent, it was winched up the shingle beach, and the claimant disembarked by stepping from the boat onto a platform at the top of a set of freestanding steps which led down on to the shingle. When the claimant stepped on to the shingle he slipped and fell, sustaining personal injury.