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Deaths in 2001
FURTHER DETAILS OF DEATHS
George Derek Redfern
George, an HGV driver, was certified dead after falling off a lorry at the Brinsworth Strip Mills. The inquest was held at South Yorkshire East Coroner’s Court on 17 July 2002. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned. Gemma Savage
Gemma, a student of biomedical sciences at Durham University, died following an incident involving the ride known as the Treetop Twister at Lightwater Valley Theme Park. The ride which is a cross between waltzers and a rollercoaster in which gondolas seating four passengers rotate as they travel along a tubular track 2 metres above the ground had a mid-air collision between gondolas which resulted in Gemma and several others receiving injuries. Gemma suffered severe head, neck and back injuries and was taken by Air Ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary where she died without regaining consciousness. The inquest was held at North Yorkshire Western District Coroner’s Court, on 19 October 2004, when the jury returned a verdict of 'Misadventure', as directed by the deputy coroner John Sleightholme. After the conclusion of the inquest, Miss Savage's mother, Linda, said, 'We are disappointed that the coroner did not leave the verdict of unlawful killing to the jury. Alongside her husband, Stuart, son Robert and daughter, Rachel, Mrs Savage said the family had heard nothing to convince them safety levels had improved at the theme park since the accident. In March 2006 the Health and Safety Executive decided that Lightwater Valley theme park was to face trial for allegedly breaching health and safety laws. The ride's manufacturers and a maintenance electrician have also been accused of health and safety breaches. Lightwater Valley Attractions Ltd has denied failing to ensure the health and safety of riders while electrician Eric Butters, of Fairways Avenue, Harrogate, has denied failing to ensure safety through his work. French firm Société Reverchon, which manufactured the Treetop Twister ride, is charged with failing to ensure the safety of its construction.The company did not enter a plea and failed to appear at Leeds Crown Court. Maintenance electrician Mr Eric Butters was fined £2,500 plus costs of £500. The French manufacturer, Société Reverchon Industries, France, was found guilty after a four-day trial. The company, which was in liquidation, was fined a total of £120,000 plus £55,000 costs. After the hearing, Health and Safety Executive (HSE)investigating Inspector Paul Robinson said, 'Gemma Savage tragically died after what should have been a fun day out for her. “The guilty pleas and verdicts and the Judge’s comments and fines imposed today on the ride supplier, operator and worker reflect the high safety standards expected by the law, public and HSE from all those involved in supplying and operating fairground and theme park rides. “The amusement industry safety record is good but constant care is required from all those involved to ensure that high safety standards are achieved and members of the public are only exposed to the illusion of danger” The ‘Treetop Twister’ ride at Lightwater Valley is a roller coaster where cars are pulled up to a height and then run back down on an undulating and twisting track under gravity. When a car failed to clear a ‘hill’, it was held near the top and the ride automatically stopped the following cars. Eric Butters used the maintenance hand controls to return cars to the station but his actions, combined with the effect of a ride wiring fault, resulted in the two cars colliding. Lightwater Valley Attractions Ltd was charged with breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA). Mr Butters was charged under Section 7(a) of the HSWA, and charges against the ride’s French manufacturer, Société Reverchon Industries, France, were under Sections 6 (1A)(a) & 6(1A)(c) of the HSWA. Lightwater Valley Attractions Ltd and Mr Eric Butters pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.
Ian Brown
Ian, a self-employed farmworker, died in hospital of an infection nine days after he had been admitted following an incident in which he was trampled by a herd of cows he was trying to feed. Coroner's officer Richard Musgrove said that Ian had spent most of his life as a farmhand or farmer and in early July had joined a farm in Yeadon as a relief manager. On July 9, Ian and another farm worker went to some farmland at Bramhope to feed the cattle on that land. Mr Musgrove said, 'They were both loading the hopper with food when cattle approached robustly and knocked Mr Brown off his feet. Then one of the herd trampled on him.' Ian's condition deteriorated after the incident and he was later taken to the accident and emergency department at Leeds General Infirmary where he was diagnosed with cuts and bruises and a broken rib. He later developed respiratory problems and despite the best efforts of the hospital, he died on July 18. A post mortem revealed he had died from bronchia pneumonia and septicaemia with hypertensive heart disease a contributive factor. The inquest was held at West Yorkshire Eastern District Coroner’s Court on 3 December 2001. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.
Alan Gordon
Alan, a roofer, died of severe injuries after falling through
a brittle roof at Coincheck Electronics Ltd in Cleethorpes while carrying
out repairs for leaks. The jury heard how the roofer with more than 20 years experience who had never had a work related accident died of severe injuries after falling 30 feet to a concrete floor. Health and Safety Inspector Rob Bowel told the inquest of the danger of 'corroded and brittle sheet roofs'. He said, 'I've been doing this job for 35 years and our log books have been full of up to 20 cases a year of fatal accidents caused by these sorts of roof, throughout my time. The danger of these roofs is considerable.' Frank Toth
Frank, a maintenance worker at an industrial complex, died after falling 30 ft through an asbestos roof when told by his boss to 'sort it out' though he was not qualified to do so. He was taken to hospital having lost consciousness. A blood clot was removed from his head and his condition began to improve but he developed breathing problems and died a few days later on September 1. A post-mortem examination showed Frank died from brain damage. The inquest at West Yorkshire Western District sitting in Bradford Coroner's Court in April 2002 heard how Frank was employed by Woolcomber Scourers to carry out repairs for business tenants at the complex. After a break-in was reported at one of the properties, he climbed on to a roof and repaired the damage. David Hobson, former general manager of Woolcomber Scourers, told the inquest if there was a problem with a roof, building contractors were always brought in to deal with it. He said Frank had rung him and asked whether he should sort it out. But Mr Hobson added he did not expect Frank to go on the roof and repair it himself. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.
Daniel Anelay
Daniel, a self employed scaffolder/steeplejack, was killed when he fell through a fragile roof while removing scaffolding. He was contracting for a company called Durascaff & Co working at Messrs Richard Wilson & Co. in Beeston. The inquest was held at West Yorkshire Eastern District Coroner’s Court on 2 December 2002. A verdict of 'Death by Misadventure' was returned. Kenneth Green
Kenneth,
a worker in the water transport industry, died after falling from a height
at the docks at Howdendike, Goole. Stanley Twyman
Stanley, a security guard, was working at the Atlas Caravans factory site in Hull when three men intent on robbery savagely assaulted him. The three, all heavy users of ecstasy and temazepam, climbed over a security fence armed with a Beretta air pistol. During the attack Stanley was hauled out of the cabin where he worked, before being beaten to the head and body while on his knees, and later, while lying helpless on the floor. His screams could be heard on the security system's radio network during the onslaught. The gang then tackled another guard who had been alerted by Stanley's screams, 61-year-old Malcolm Rogers who was left partially disabled from head wounds inflicted by the gang. The three were sentenced at Hull Crown Court in July 2002. Bower was convicted of the murder. Gregory and Kent pleaded guilty and each of three were also sentenced for burglary, aggravated burglary, robbery and possessing a firearm. Their cases reached London's Royal Courts of Justice in November 2005 as the judge Mr Justice Holland fixed the appropriate 'tariff' in each case - the minimum amount of time they must serve behind bars before they can apply for parole. Neil Bower, 26, Michael Gregory, 24, and Karl Kent, 23, of Hull, were all jailed for life for the murder. Bowyer and Gregory must serve 18 years and ringleader Kent 20 years before applying for parole.
Philip Hartley
Philip, a
linesman who had worked for the Yorkshire Electricity board for 29 years,
died after receiving an electric shock while installing an automatic fuse
link on 11,000volt power cables while standing in a 'cherry picker'. The
line should have been isolated but one of three switchs malfunctioned. Yorkshire Electricity Distribution Services Ltd (YEDS) was fined £60,000 at Hull Crown Court in May 2004 for failing to ensure the safety of their employee. The court heard that Mr Hartley's death was caused by the failure of equipment known as a line section isolator. Danger arose because inadequate management systems allowed unsafe working practices to persist. Prosecutor Simon Parrington told the court everyone had assumed the line had been isolated and was safe to work on. But engineers were also working on another part of the network, and as Mr Hartley carried out his repairs the line became 'energised' again. 'It should never be assumed that the line section isolator was operating correctly and there should have been management systems in place to prevent this,' said Mr Parrington. 'This was not the case. Danger arose because inadequate management systems allowed unsafe working practices to persist.' The court heard that the firm had introduced money-saving changes which meant isolators were checked every 10 years as opposed to every five. Under the old rules the isolator responsible for Philip's death should have been checked one year and five months before the fatal incident, and then he would not have been killed. YEDS, which was taken over by Northern Electric six days before Philip's death, has since reinstated the old five-year maintenance rule. The court heard that more than £2 million has been spent by the comapny in re-training staff and making changes to safety.
Anthony Holmes
Anthony, a welder, died from a rare condition known as 'shock' lung following surgery after breaking his leg when he was struck by a 450kg steel sheet. He underwent surgery the next day but went into cardiac arrest and died. The inquest was held at West Yorkshire Western District Coroner’s Court on 22 March 2002. Consultant histopathologist Dr John O'Dowd told the hearing that Anthony had suffered major trauma to his body after a fat embolism travelled from the broken bone in his leg to blood vessels in the lung. He said the condition was well known, but rare. Anthony's colleague Craig Bell was operating the crane when he saw the incident unfold. He told the inquest jury that Anthony had been grinding the metal plate before fastening it to a clamp. Mr Bell used the crane to lift the object and both men held the plate to stop it spinning. But as it was being raised from the ground it began to slip. 'It dropped two inches to the ground,' said Mr Bell. 'I pushed Anthony as the plate fell, but it caught him on the hip.' Health and Safety Executive inspector Julian Franklin said he felt that a lack of training might have contributed to the accident. He added that basic rules on the use of lifting equipment would include not standing next to anything being raised. A verdict of 'Death by Misadventure' was returned.
Arif Toy-Temor
Arif, a Turkish-born asylum seeker, suffered massive head injuries when a large section of tree, weighing between 30 and 40 pounds, fell on him during lopping work. Arif was working as a labourer for tree surgeon James Manchester The inquest was held at West Yorkshire Western District Coroner’s Court on 3 October 2002. Mr Manchester told the hearing he was up the 60ft ash tree cutting sections from it. He had instructed Arif to stand well clear. He said he saw him standing where he should have been, about five metres away, as he began using the chainsaw. When he stopped cutting he looked down and saw Arif's hard plastic helmet on the ground. Arif was on some steps, rubbing his head. He stood up, but said he was feeling dizzy. He was driven home but an ambulance was called. Dr Pat Caunt, an inspector with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), said she was satisfied the system of work being used was what the HSE would expect. A verdict of 'Misadventure' was returned.
Paul Sharp
Paul, a waste reclamation worker at Wakefield's Denby Dale Road tip, was killed in an incident involving failed hydraulics in the tipping mechanism which caused a 3-ton skip full of cardboard to fall over backwards off the carrier vehicle, crushing him. Paul was unloading the skip with two other men at the council-owned waste depot when it slipped from the vehicle used to move it and fell backwards on to him. The other two men were unhurt. The inquest was held at West Yorkshire Eastern District Coroner’s Court on 11 June 2003. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned. The court heard how the huge skips, measuring 18ft by 7ft, were driven into a room at the back of the site so the cardboard could be sorted to sell. The skips were loaded on to lorries and tipped backwards to empty their loads. On the day of the incident cardboard had become lodged in the skip, so it had been left virtually upright for 20 minutes – putting maximum pressure on the hydraulics. The coroner ruled out a verdict of gross negligence manslaughter.
Joe Loosemore
Joe, a schoolboy, was playing with friends at the rear of the Day and Nite Supermarket on a Sunday at 5 pm when a metal fire escape staircase collapsed on him causing fatal head injuries from which he died. It is thought that the cable holding up the retractable part of the stairway snapped causing it to suddenly fall into the down position. The full inquest was held at South Yorkshire East Coroner’s Court. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned. Anthony Poulton
Anthony, died after being trapped under falling rock while blasting an access tunnel deep underground in a coal mine. He was struck by a large rock of coal and received medical attention underground but lost consciousness and was taken to hospital where his death was confirmed. Antony was an experienced tunneller employed by mining specialists Amco. He had been working in a tunnel three miles from the bottom of the pit. The inquest was held at North Yorkshire Western District Coroner’s Court on 16 October
2002. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.
John Dalton
John, a wholesale butcher making a delivery to a farm in Wakefield, was killed in a freak accident when a gust of wind ripped a tubular metal gate off its hinges forcing it through the windscreen of his lorry, impaling him. The inquest was held at West Yorkshire Eastern District Coroner’s Court on 10 June 2003.
A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.
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