Man injured after fall through play centre's roof near Ipswich
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Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Care worker, 61, died when she was pinned against wall while using platform lift and could not reach button to stop it
An experienced care worker died after being slowly pinned against a wall while using a platform lift and could not reach a button to stop it. Jacqueline Langworthy was transporting a stand aid which got caught on the edge of the platform and trapped her against the side, an inquest heard. This put the lift's controls out of her reach so she could not stop the machine and free herself, leaving her stuck in mid-air as the platform continued to move downwards. The 61-year-old was able to call for help but by the time she was freed she was unconscious and could not be revived. A coroner has now issued a warning about dangerous platform lifts following the tragedy. Linda Lee, assistant coroner for Coventry, said all lifts should be fitted with 'hold to run' controls which require continuous pressure to keep them moving. Since 2010 the new operating mechanism has been required on all platform lifts but it was not applied retrospectively despite the 'relatively low cost' of fitting it to existing machines. The inquest, held before a jury, heard that on July 24, 2024, Miss Langworthy - who was new to Grove House in Coventry - entered the lift with a stand aid. It is unclear why she did this when the policy was that staff were prohibited from travelling in the lift with equipment. As the lift descended the stand aid's wheels caught the edge of the platform and became wedged, pinning Miss Langworthy against the wall of the lift shaft. The platform continued to lower as she could no longer reach the controls and Miss Langworthy became suspended in mid-air. She was able to call for help but once she was freed resuscitation was unsuccessful and the care assistant passed. Recording a conclusion of accidental death, the jury found that her cause of death was asphyxiation. Outlining the circumstances of Miss Langworthy's death in her prevention of future deaths report, Ms Lee said: 'Miss Langworthy was an experienced care assistant who had recently begun employment at a care home, where she was shadowing more senior members of staff. 'The home was equipped with a platform lift, intended for transporting wheelchair users accompanied by a carer. It was also used to move bulky equipment, although care home policy prohibited staff from travelling in the lift with equipment. 'For reasons that remain unclear, Miss Langworthy entered the lift with stand aid. 'As the lift descended, the wheels of the stand aid caught on the edge of the lift platform, causing it to become wedged and pin Miss Langworthy against the wall of the lift shaft. 'Although she was able to call for help, Miss Langworthy could not reach the controls. The platform continued to descend, suspending her mid-air. 'By the time she was freed, she was unresponsive, and resuscitation was unsuccessful.' She continued: 'An experienced [Health and Safety Executive] engineer examined the lift and confirmed there were no mechanical defects in either the lift or the stand aid. 'The engineer found that, once the downward toggle switch had been activated, the platform continued to move under latch control, placing the controls out of Miss Langworthy's reach, as she remained trapped above the platform. 'The platform could not be stopped via the control wall pressure switch while descending. 'The engineer noted that such risks were known within the industry, with a history of wheelchair users being injured in similar circumstances. 'She explained that 'hold-to-run' controls - now a requirement under current standards -would likely have prevented the incident, as the passenger would be expected to release the control in the event of danger. 'However, the lift pre-dated this requirement, and such standards are not applied retrospectively.' Ms Lee warned that future deaths could occur unless 'hold to run' controls are retrofitted to pre-2010 lifts. 'In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken,' the coroner said. 'Many platform lifts still in use in care settings and other premises do not have hold-to-run controls. 'Evidence was received indicating that such controls can be retrofitted at relatively low cost. 'There is limited awareness of both the risks posed by the absence of hold-to-run devices and the feasibility of fitting such devices to existing platform lifts.' Her report has been sent to the Minister of State for Health, the Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Executive, and the Lift and Escalator Industry Association who each have until September 15 to respond.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Harrowing details emerge about the groom fighting for life after his minibus rolled SEVEN times down an embankment on his wedding day in the Hunter Valley
A groom who was left fighting for life in a horror minibus crash on his wedding day is a father of four recently confined to a wheelchair after he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. John Barrett, 56, was just hours away from marrying the love of his life when the minibus he was travelling in with his groomsmen lost control and rolled seven times down an embankment at Mount View, in the NSW Hunter Valley, on Wednesday. He was trapped in the wreckage for almost an hour before being freed and airlifted to John Hunter Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition. A second man who suffered head injuries was also airlifted to the same hospital in a critical condition. Four other men on board, including the driver, suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital in a stable condition. Mr Barrett was minutes away from Bistro Molines at the Tallavera Grove vineyard, where he planned to get ready for the midweek nuptials to his partner Michelle Murphy, with whom he welcomed a baby girl three years ago. The couple were recently rocked by Mr Barrett's diagnosis with MND, a debilitating disease that robs people of their ability to move, speak and eventually breathe. Survival time varies, but the average life expectancy is two to three years from diagnosis. Despite the devastating setback, Mr Barrett vowed to raise funds to help find a cure. 'While we are adjusting to this unfamiliar journey together, John was quite clear that he wanted to do what he could to raise funds in support of Professor Dominic Rowe and his team at Macquarie University,' a fundraiser set up by the family states. 'Your contribution can make a difference, and help shape a better future and give hope to those living with MND.' A talented cricketer, Mr Barrett was also a much-loved member of the Newcastle Hunter Districts Veterans Club and had represented the region and NSW on numerous occasions. 'John has been an incredible teammate and friend, an opening bowler with unmatched grit, a sharp fielder, and a handy lower-order batsman,' the club posted last month. It's understood Mr Barrett showed the first signs of MND while representing NSW Veterans at the national championships in Adelaide in 2022. 'Despite this, John continued to inspire with his determination and positivity,' the club continued. 'Johnny, you're a great man, and we're all standing beside you, mate. You got this, buddy - let's all get behind JB and do this!' Investigations into the cause of the crash continue. Wedding guests who were following behind the minibus witnessed the crash. The minibus driver has undergone mandatory blood and alcohol testing. Investigators will examine whether unsealed road conditions, the wet weather and seatbelt use were contributing factors. 'It is a tragic situation and we're very fortunate that the injuries weren't fatal. It definitely could have been worse,' Superintendent Steve Laksa said. 'We're very fortunate that the injuries weren't fatal. It definitely could've been worse.' The crash comes two years after a bus packed with wedding guests overturned and crashed in nearby Greta, killing 10 and injuring another 25. Bus driver Brett Button, 59, was charged with 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death and negligent driving. He was jailed for a minimum of 24 years over the tragedy.
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Oxford Transplant Games: The competitors 'gift of life'
Nearly 10 years ago, Lisa Wilson received a phone call that turned her world upside was at home in Hornchurch, Essex, when her son's best friend Rob called to say Tom had been hurt during hockey training on 8 December 2015.22-year-old Tom had suffered a severe brain haemorrhage and passed away, but his parents found out he was on the national organ donation Thursday 12-year-old Fatima, who received part of his liver, is taking part in the British Transplant Games which begin in Oxford. Tom played hockey at Old Loughtonians Hockey Club but on the day of the tragedy, Tom was not supposed to actually train due to a slight injury on the he agreed to go on the pitch and be a passive his mother received the fateful call, she heard in the background somebody say "Is he still breathing?""And at that point, my world turned upside down," she player had hit her son on the back of the head with a hockey stick as he was Wilson said the blow was so severe, "it dislodged the brain stem immediately". He was rushed to The Royal London Hospital but had suffered a subarachnoid brain father Graham then said: "There isn't anything anybody could do for Tom but there's something Tom can do for others - organ donation".Part of Tom's liver was given to a two-and-a-half-year-old girl, while his heart was flown to Newcastle for a sixty-year-old man, family was told that Tom "helped save and improve the lives of up to 50 people because of the organs and tissue donation". "From an awful tragedy at least we get some comfort from knowing that Tom went on to help others and give the most precious gift of all - the gift of life," Mrs Wilson found out that organ families could write to recipients in a "very carefully monitored and managed programme".It was "an absolute joy" to receive two cards back - one from a mum reading "Thank you for saving my little girl's life" and the other which just said "Thank you from the bottom of my heart". Mrs Wilson met Fatima, who received part of Tom's liver, and her mum Lubna Siddiqui, who live near London."Little Fatima was able to tell me when we went down the slide in the park 'Be careful of my liver, you know it's very special'," Mrs Wilson had been diagnosed with sclerosing cholangitis, which involves the bile ducts in the liver becoming progressively inflamed and damaged over time."It was having a huge impact on her body, so this is where it got to a life-threatening stage," Mrs Siddiqui said."We were very lucky, because she was on the transplant list."She described the mix of emotions - "sorrow", "gratefulness" and "a bittersweet feeling" - once she found out the donor was a 22-year-old. Fatima is one of more than 1,000 transplant recipients, living donors, and supporters coming together to compete in sporting events across Oxfordshire from Thursday to is competing in her third British Transplant Games, in the obstacle race and swimming. Gordon meanwhile has been selected to represent GB in table tennis at the world event in Dresden, Germany, on 17 August."It gives people like Fatima, the chance to compete and to be a part of something so huge," Mrs Siddiqui said."They get to be a part of something and then just the opportunity to meet other families that ... get what she's going through as well on a daily basis."Fatima's dream is to become either a doctor or a space engineer. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
