No action over power station deaths

No action over power station deaths

The blast came during a procedure on a transformer

The owners of a former power plant where three people died in an explosion, are to escape prosecution, the government's health watchdog has said.

Paul Surtees, Darren Higgins, and Andrew Sherwood were killed while carrying out maintenance work on a transformer on the former Enron power station near Redcar on Teesside in August 2001.

A fourth man, Graham White, suffered serious burns.

An inquest jury returned a verdict of accidental death at a hearing in February.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says it has decided not to bring a prosecution following the tragedy.

A HSE spokesman said: "Very careful consideration has been given to all the evidence surrounding this tragic incident, taking into account the Health and Safety Commission's enforcement policy, the code for Crown Prosecutors and independent legal advice.

"The HSE has decided not to bring a prosecution following the investigation.

Fireball erupted

"HSE inspectors have visited the families of Andrew Sherwood, Lawrence Paul Surtees and Darren Higgins to inform them of the decision.

"The HSE's decision not to prosecute does not prevent any civil claim."

February's inquest heard how the team inadvertently short circuited the 16,000 volt transformer while trying to alter its voltage.

A fireball erupted from the device, instantly killing Mr Sherwood, 36, and Mr Higgins, 28.

Mr Surtees, 41, died later at Middlesbrough General Hospital after suffering 90% burns.

Graeme White, 39, from Billingham, survived the blast, which was described by coroner Michael Sheffield as a "tragic disaster".

Mr White had told the 11-member jury that his "whole body was in flames" after the blast.

He was observing Mr Higgins, from Normanby, near Middlesbrough, and Mr Surtees, from Hawthorn, County Durham, attempting a procedure on a huge transformer at the 27-acre site in Wilton.