First successful prosecution under the 2007 Act

Alex Wright was working alone and without any supervision at all, investigating soil conditions in a 3.5 m deep unsupported trench near Stroud, when the trench collapsed on him, after the company director had left for the day. The two owners of the development plot decided to stay at the site, because they knew that Alex was working alone in the trench. After around 15 minutes they heard a muffed noise and a shout for help. While one called the emergency services, other one ran to the trench where he observed that soil had fallen in and buried him up to his head. He climbed in and removed some of the soil to enable Mr Wright to breathe, but there was a further fall of earth into the pit, covering Alex Wright completely. He died of traumatic asphyxiation.