Moment I saw my workmate crushed (From The Northern Echo)

Moment I saw my workmate crushed

7:31am Friday 10th July 2009 in

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A HORRIFIED factory worker last night told how a workmate was crushed to death at a car parts factory.

Married father-of-two Paul Clark, of Alverton Drive, Newton Aycliffe, is thought to have been killed while trying to fix an industrial press at Thyssen- Krupp Tallent, on Aycliffe Business Park, in the town.

The company has yet to formally name the 52-year-old as the victim, but colleagues have spoken of their shock at the death of such a popular man.

One worker told The Northern Echo how the tragedy, which happened at about 4.30pm on Wednesday, unfolded.

“He climbed inside one of the presses to free it off. While he was working, the mechanism released and crushed him.

“Everyone was in shock about what happened and the management sent everybody home from the press shop.

“The news still hasn’t really sunk in yet. He was a really popular bloke and everyone is struggling to come to terms with what happened.

“I don’t think anyone is expecting to be back working in the press shop for quite some time.

“I know the health and safety inspectors have been on site and I can imagine there will be a full internal investigation into what happened.

“Our thoughts are with his family at this tragic time.”

Mr Clark, from Newton Aycliffe, leaves a wife, Carole, and two grownup sons, Matthew and Adam.

Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have launched an investigation and safety inspectors have visited the plant.

A spokeswoman for the firm said it would offer support to workers affected by the incident.

She said: “It is with extreme sadness that we must confirm that on Wednesday afternoon, in the press shop, one of our employees was fatally injured while at work.

“His immediate family have been advised and the press shop was closed for the afternoon and night shifts.

“Our sincere thoughts are with the family at this time of their loss and our thanks go out to those people who tried hard to assist in this tragic situation.”

The spokeswoman said there would be no further comment from the firm until the investigation had concluded.

Mr Clark’s death comes only weeks after the HSE announced workplace fatalities were at an all-time low.

It said there were 180 deaths in the UK during the 12 months to March, down from 233 in the previous year and the lowest since records began in 1974.

Fatal injuries in agriculture fell from 46 to 26, while, in construction, the total fell from 72 to 53.

However, in manufacturing there was a only a slight fall of 33 to 32.

HSE chairwoman Judith Hackitt said the UK consistently has fewer fatal injuries compared with industrialised nations in the rest of Europe but that more needs to be done.

ThyssenKrupp Tallent is one of Newton Aycliffe’s largest employers and manufactures chassis and suspension products.

It supplies manufacturers including BMW, Honda and Renault.

In the print copy of today's The Northern Echo, the address of Mr Clark was printed incorrectly. We apologise for the error and any subsequent distress caused