Worker dies on Gatwick Airport station project

The 35-year-old was working for subcontractor Kilnbridge when the incident happened in the early hours of Friday 22 July.

British Transport Police confirmed that he was pronounced dead at the site. Detectives are working with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to investigate the causes of the fatality.

Kilnbridge chief executive Dermot McDermott said: “It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I can confirm that an incident occurred at our Gatwick Airport Station project site, shortly after midnight in the early hours of Friday July 22, which resulted in the tragic loss of one of our colleagues.

“On behalf of the entire Kilnbridge business, our thoughts and sympathies are with the family, loved ones, friends and colleagues at this extremely difficult time. Our focus and priority is on supporting the family and on the wellbeing of our colleagues.

“An investigation has been launched and we are working closely with the British Transport Police and the Health and Safety Executive, who are leading the investigation. We are also liaising closely with our Gatwick Airport Station project clients Costain and Network Rail.”

A spokesperson for British Transport Police said: “Officers were called to Gatwick Airport station at 12.13am on 22 July following reports that a construction worker had been injured.

"Despite the best efforts of paramedics, a 35-year-old man was very sadly pronounced dead at the scene. His family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.

"Detectives are working alongside the Health and Safety Executive to understand the full circumstances behind his death.”

Costain chief executive Alex Vaughan said: “We are shocked and saddened by this incident and we are fully assisting the investigation into its cause.

"Our focus at this time is on supporting the individual’s family and on the wellbeing of our colleagues.”

Network Rail regional managing director for the south John Halsall said: “I’m really sad to say that a railway colleague working on the Gatwick Airport station project died [on Friday] after an incident on site. This is a tragic accident and our thoughts are with the colleague’s family and friends.

“We will do everything we can to support everyone involved and are working closely with the British Transport Police and the Health and Safety Executive, who are leading the investigation.”

The Health and Safety Executive said it was aware of the incident and "supporting the police investigation".

Costain was appointed in 2019 to deliver a major upgrade of the Gatwick Airport station.

Works at the West Sussex rail hub include doubling the size of the station concourse; adding five lifts and eight escalators; and widening two platforms to reduce overcrowding.

The new concourse is expected to open to passengers next spring.

Figures published earlier this month showed that almost one in four workplace fatalities in the year to March 2022 were in the construction sector.

The industry recorded more work-related deaths than any other in that period.

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