FAMILIES of the victims of an RAF helicopter disaster are to continue with legal action against the Ministry of Defence despite inquest verdicts of accidental death. Christopher Bailey, aged 15, of Berne Avenue Horwich, Mark Oakden, 17, of Gisburn Drive, Bury, and Amanda Whitehead, 17, of Jesmond Avenue perished in the crash in August 1993 on a training flight over Snowdonia during a summer camp in North Wales. The Wessex helicopter went into a spin and plunged from a height of 400ft into the 70ft deep waters in Llyn Padarn at the Welsh beauty spot of Llanberis. The crash was blamed on a faulty connection to the tail rotor which completely failed.

Coroner Dewi Pritchard-Jones said the crash was "a completely unforeseen and unanticipated event" and recorded verdicts of accidental death at the inquest yesterday in Llandudno, North Wales.

But lawyer, Mark Gosnell, representing families of the cadets who were killed and survivor Sarah Coker, said the compensation bid for negligence against the Ministry of Defence will continue.

He said: "The verdict was expected because it was the only possible verdict the coroner could give, but it doesn't alter the fact that an accident occurred which shouldn't have. There is obviously nothing that can compensate for the loss the families have suffered. They are really looking for an acknowledgment of responsibility from the Ministry of Defence. "They are obviously very upset having had to sit through the evidence and watch a video of the helicopter going down, but they conducted themselves with a great deal of dignity."

Mr Pritchard-Jones praised surviving cadet Sarah, 19, of Cornwall Drive, Bury, before delivering his verdicts last night.

The inquest had heard how Sarah, who was 17 at the time of the tragedy, managed to get out of the helicopter and escape death with three RAF crew members. Mr Pritchard Jones commented: "I am particularly impressed by the way Miss Coker got out. She must be a lady with a strong will and determination to live." The coroner concluded: "This was a completely unforeseen event for all concerned - those who died and those who survived."

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