THE "ST. ANGUS."

(1938) 61 Ll.L.Rep. 186

ADMIRALTY DIVISION.

Before Mr. Justice Hodson, sitting with Captain R. L. F. Hubbard, Elder Brother of Trinity House.

Collision-Illness of master at wheel- Inevitable accident-Collision between plaintiffs' steamship Hartford and defendants' motor vessel St. Angus off Greenhithe, River Thames-Hartford moored at buoy; St. Angus bound down -Hartford admittedly free from blame -Defendants plea of inevitable accident in that master (solely in charge of navigation) fainted at wheel owing to the effects of food poisoning, that the wheel was starboarded in his falling, and that the vessel, left to its own resources, turned and collided with the Hartford on the southern side of the river-Onus of proof of inevitable accident- Whether collision could have been avoided by the exercise of reasonable maritime care and skill.