Rail worker dies after track fall

By pmeyler

A RAIL worker who fell 20ft on to tracks has died three weeks after it was claimed he sustained “non-life-threatening injuries”.

Malcolm Slater, from Harold Wood, was one of three workers injured when the metal basket of a hoist fell away from its hydraulic arm in Margaretting.

The 64-old-year died last Wednesday, July 2, after sustaining serious head and spine injuries when he fell from the cherry picker.

All three men had been repairing overhead lines on the Norwich to London line, when the accident happened on June 11.

Mr Slater's two colleagues received less serious injuries.

Following the accident a Network Rail spokesman said: “All three men sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

“Two have since left hospital and are recuperating at home. The third is having further treatment.”

A colleague of Mr Slater, who worked from Network Rail's maintenance depot in Romford, said: “I had known him for 24 years. A lot of workers here are gutted.”

Following news of Mr Slater's death a Network Rail spokesman said: “We are deeply saddened and our immediate thoughts are with Malcolm's family and friends in their time of loss.”

The cherry pickers were being used to repair overhead lines brought down by a train.

Network Rail has withdrawn the apparatus from its sites while safety checks are carried out.