Pest control workers found dead with frozen hands and feet in chicken factory died ‘after suffocating’
TWO pest control workers found dead with frozen hands and feet suffocated after unknowingly walking into a deadly cloud of gas, a court has heard.
Their heartbroken families’ lives “changed forever” after the men were killed at Banham Poultry factory in Norfolk in what prosecutors described as a “cavalier” safety failure.
Sign up for newsletter
Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy
Cops at the scene outside Banham Poultry in Attleborough, NorfolkCredit: SWNS
The court heard the men had entered the one-man-wide passage as part of routine pest control workCredit: SWNS
Neil Moon was working for Banham Poultry as a pest control subcontractors when he lost his lifeCredit: Norfolk Police
Jonathan Collins was also working for Banham Poultry as pest control subcontractor when he lost his lifeCredit: SWNS
Neil Moon, 49, and Jonathan “Jon” Collins, 34, were discovered in the early hours after concerned relatives raised the alarm when they failed to return home.
Norwich Crown Court heard the pair died from asphyxiation after nitrogen gas built up in a walkway at the side of the chicken factory.
The court heard the men had entered the one-man-wide passage as part of routine pest control work.
The men had no warning they were stepping into a lethal environment on the tragic day in October 2018.
READ MORE: UK NEWS
STREET CHAOS
Dozens of hooded youngsters flood high street shops as cops rush to scene
SHOOTING HORROR
Man, 26, gunned down while sat in car is pictured as family pay tribute
Prosecutor Craig Hassall KC said: “Ultimately, they were killed by a colourless, odourless gas.
“When they walked into the passageway they were given no warning of the risks.”
Their bodies were later found at around 1am, lying in the narrow corridor between the factory and nearby railway tracks.
Evidence showed their hands and faces were frozen, with frost visible on the ground.
MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN
Earlier CCTV footage played to the court showed the men arriving at the site at around 8.30am.
They were last seen alive at 11.40am.
When they did not return home that evening, worried loved ones raised the alarm that triggered a search that led to the grim discovery hours later.
The hearing was told the deadly gas leak was caused by a dislodged duct pipe connected to a chilling system used to process chickens.
Mr Hassall told the court: “When these men entered the passageway ducting had become detached, pumping concentrated nitrogen into a narrow space.”
The court heard concerns had previously been raised about mist drifting across nearby railway platforms.
This prompted a series of changes to the system in the months before.
But Mr Hassall said the work was not carried out safely, describing the companies’ actions as “cavalier” and warning they had failed to protect workers on site.
Banham Poultry Limited and Air Products plc have both admitted health and safety offences on the basis that the breaches caused the deaths.
At an earlier coroner’s review, it had been confirmed the men died from a build-up of nitrogen.
Though a full picture of how the tragedy unfolded only emerged during this week’s sentencing hearing.
In emotional statements read to the court, families laid bare their devastation.
Jon’s wife Gillian said: “My life stopped but I had to find the strength to carry on for our son.”
She added: “I still don’t know why it has taken these companies seven a half years to accept responsibility for causing these deaths.
“The careless and reckless actions of those responsible have had catastrophic consequences.”
Their daughter Dakota described him as an “amazing father”.
She added: “My dad was a kind and caring man just doing his job. They were robbed of their lives.”
Neil’s fiancée Sara Dutton said he had been a “strong and devoted family man” who doted on his three young children.
“My life and the lives of my children changed forever,” she said.
News
Two police officers dragged a well-dressed Black woman across the courthouse steps while dozens of people stood there recording.
Two police officers dragged a well-dressed Black woman across the courthouse steps while dozens of people stood there recording.“Get your ghetto ass away from here,” Officer Marcus Webb barked as he twisted her arm and pulled her toward the street.Her leather briefcase scraped loudly against the concrete. Her heels struggled for balance. People gasped… but […]
They Treated Her Like Garbage Until She Called the Pentagon. Then the Roadside Went Silent.352
They Treated Her Like Garbage Until She Called the Pentagon. Then the Roadside Went Silent.352 They Treated Her Like Garbage Until She Called the Pentagon. Then the Roadside Went Silent. They Treated Her Like Garbage Until She Called the Pentagon. Then the Roadside Went Silent. The first mistake Sergeant Cole made was thinking the woman […]
My mother-in-law blocked the doorway of my new apartment and screamed that her son had bought it for her, ordering me to leave.
My mother-in-law blocked the doorway of my new apartment and screamed that her son had bought it for her, ordering me to leave. She called me trash—so I took the trash out. And when my husband found out what I did next, he stood there in total sh0ck… My mother-in-law blocked the doorway of my […]
Two days after my C-section, I caught my husband drugging a nurse so he could hand our healthy newborn to his mistress and leave me with a dy:ing baby instead.
Two days after my C-section, I caught my husband drugging a nurse so he could hand our healthy newborn to his mistress and leave me with a dy:ing baby instead. PART 1 I acted like the perfect shattered victim… but Nathan had no idea I was preparing to bring down everything his family had built. […]
A year after she stole my husband, my former best friend mailed me an invitation to her baby shower.
A year after she stole my husband, my former best friend mailed me an invitation to her baby shower. “Come celebrate our little miracle,” she wrote, adding a smiley face. “Sorry you couldn’t give him a son.” A year after stealing my husband, my former best friend mailed me an invitation to her baby shower. […]
When I was 17, my adopted sister accused me of getting her pregnant.
When I was 17, my adopted sister accused me of getting her pregnant. My family disowned me, my girlfriend walked away, and I vanished without a trace. Ten years later, the truth finally came out—and they showed up at my door in tears. I never opened it. I was seventeen the summer everything fell apart. […]
End of content
No more pages to load
