'Speeding' and unlicensed lorry driver who crushed British holidaymaker with 29-tonne truck in Barbados port escapes prosecution because it was not a public road, inquest hears

By ANDY DOLAN, GENERAL REPORTER Published: 12:03, 30 June 2026 | Updated: 12:14, 30 June 2026 An unlicensed lorry driver who reversed at speed over a British holidaymaker and killed her while she was on a 'luxury' cruise in a Caribbean port has escaped prosecution because it didn't happen on a public road, an inquest heard. Holidaymaker Janet Purkess, 87, had just stepped off the Saga Sapphire cruise ship in Bridgetown, Barbados, when she was crushed to death by the 29-tonne HGV. A coroner in Britain has now slammed authorities on the paradise island over their handling of the case. Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp said it was 'extraordinary' that a criminal case against driver Anthony Walcott, held in Barbados magistrates' court, was dismissed because the collision didn't happen on a public road. Portsmouth Coroner's Court also heard that Mr Walcott's case was adjourned a staggering 19 times over five years before it was finally thrown out. Mrs Purkess's family have been searching for answers for six years over her death - which happened in 2020. Her inquest began in 2023 but had to be adjourned for three years until the criminal proceedings against Mr Walcott closed. Relatives were not informed about the criminal case decision until after the seven-day appeal time had elapsed and the case was dismissed. Janet Purkess was crushed to death when an HGV reversed at speed over her at Bridgetown Port, Barbados The ship had made an unscheduled stop in Bridgetown to refuel and passengers were allowed to disembark Mrs Purkess, a widow of a retired sailor from the New Forest village of Lyndhurst, started the cruise in Southampton on January 5, 2020. The 33-night cruise - which can cost up to £10,000 - was due to visit vibrant Caribbean destinations including St Lucia, Trinidad and St Kitts and hosted passengers aged 50-plus. Ms Rhodes-Kemp was told the cruise ship made an unscheduled stop at Bridgetown to refuel, because Trinidad, where it was due to refuel, could not accommodate.  Passengers were allowed to disembark.  Crewman Apolonio Abag said he heard loud revving as the truck driver reversed at speed and then saw Mrs Purkess lying on the ground. 'I believe he must simply have been in a hurry and that he didn't see Mrs Purkess', he said.  Mr Abag said the truck was going 'too fast' considering it was reversing. Mrs Purkess had disembarked from the Saga Sapphire cruise ship (pictured) He said he gave a written statement to a member of staff on the ship, but he was never asked by the police to give evidence. The court heard Mr Walcott got out of the lorry after hitting Mrs Purkess and shouted 'mamma mia', while crying. The blue crane truck, owned by Mr Walcott's father, had no rear-view mirror or reversing alarm, nor did it have an assisting officer, and the driver had no licence and had been travelling at speed. Ms Rhodes-Kemp said she had 'never seen such horrific injuries' in her 15 years of being a coroner because the lorry ran over Mrs Purkess with both front and back wheels. Mrs Purkess was killed on what was described as a 'roadway' at the Barbados port. It was not legally a road, according to magistrates in Barbados. Ms Rhodes-Kemp said: 'This has left the Purkess family feeling even worse about what is a horrific situation. 'There is no way that this road doesn't come within this categorisation. 'The really bad part is that there was only a week to appeal and that nobody was told about this decision. 'I think that is regrettable because a week is not long to appeal. I think it could have been won on appeal. 'I know how much it has impacted you and I think it has greatly impacted your sense of loss. I'm sorry.' Sergeant Ralph Rollock, the prosecutor in Mr Walcott's case, said that his main aim was to get the case sent to the High Court because it was an indictable offence, but he was not able to convince the magistrate that this was legally a road. He said that he told his seniors about the outcome of the case, but they were the ones who did not inform the family. Ms Rhodes-Kemp described the events as a 'perfect storm' of a 'terribly tragic' situation. She said: '(Mr Walcott) was operating the vehicle alone as his supporting operator had left six months ago and hadn't been replaced. 'There was no audible alarm in place. What's more, the truck had a large crane behind the driving side, restricting the vision for the driver. 'Mr Walcott had no current HGV licence and the contract with the company had been terminated in 2016 and hadn't been renewed.' Ms Rhodes-Kemp said there was no signage on the walkway to tell passengers that they should not be in that area. She said Mr Walcott was trying to 'exit the breakwater' but couldn't turn around because the roadway was too narrow, so put the vehicle into reverse. 'He didn't see her, and tragically the rear of his vehicle hit Janet Purkess', she said, 'and the truck continued to reverse and sadly both sets of wheels, front and back, went over her. ' The coroner added: 'I have been a coroner for 15 years, and I was a nurse before being a lawyer, and I have never seen such horrific injuries.' In a statement given to police and read out at the previous hearing in 2023, before the inquest was adjourned to allow the criminal proceedings to run their course, Mr Walcott said: 'There was a van parked in front of me. 'I was moving the truck away from some skips, men were throwing garbage off the ship into the skips. 'I checked my left and right mirrors, no one was behind me and I proceeded to reverse. 'I felt a bump, I thought it was garbage. 'I then saw that there was a person lying in front of me. 'I phoned my father and told him what had happened.' Sergeant Andrew Sandiford, the collisions investigator in the case, said that he concluded in his report that Mr Walcott had not had sufficient mirrors in the truck to be able to see Mrs Purkess. In his report, he said that Mr Walcott had driven 'negligently' and he had no awareness that the criminal case had been dismissed. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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