Critically injured man flown to the UK

Thursday 24 May 2018

The man who was left critically injured after an industrial accident in Guernsey has been flown to the UK on a medical evacuation flight.

Express was told he remained in a critical condition on Wednesday 23 May. Later that day in an update from a spokesperson for the Committee for Health and Social Care, Express was told he had been repatriated to the UK by 'medevac' - which is a term used to describe an emergency medical flight.

The man was injured on Sunday morning while working inside a shop on the Bridge which is being renovated. Express was told the victim received a head injury which occurred when a refrigerator was being moved inside the shop.

Following the accident Guernsey Police released a statement, confirming the emergency services were called to the Bridge, St Sampson at 09:20 on Sunday 20 May following the "industrial accident" during which "a male received a head injury."

The duty inspector said the Committee for Health and Social Care and the Health and Safety Executive were investigating with Guernsey Police "assisting where we can."

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said it was made aware by the Joint Emergency Services Control Centre of "a work-related incident on the Bridge" with "initial reports of serious injuries to one of the workers."

The HSE added that two inspectors attended the scene on Sunday morning with the police and a Scene of Crime Officer with Guernsey Police handing the scene over to HSE.

"HSE now have primacy over the investigation," the spokesperson said, "this is an active investigation and it would therefore not be appropriate for HSE to provide additional comments at this stage."

The man was treated in the Intensive Treatment Unit at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital following the accident until he was repatriated to the UK on Wednesday.

Flowers, believed to be from family members, have been placed outside the shop on the Bridge with messages of condolence.