A worker who was left paralysed when plunging 30ft from an electricity pylon has won more than £10million in a compensation settlement.
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who → leave → settlement
Power lines maintenance man Gavin Pugh, from Bangor in north Wales, was working to dismantle a pylon in East Staffordshire in April 2022 when the accident happened.
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accident → work → April
He unknowingly clipped his safety line on to a section of the structure that had already been worked on by other workers, leaving it only secure at one end.
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that → clip → end
The strut spun into a vertical position when he put his weight on it, causing his safety rope to slip loose.
He toppled more than 30ft to the ground, causing catastrophic and life-changing injuries.
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Mr Pugh, who was 33 at the time, was left paraplegic and reliant on a wheelchair for life, having also suffered injuries to his brain, neck, shoulder, ribs and internal organs.
Following the fall, his Cheshire-based employer Wood Transmission and Distribution Ltd was criticised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which said 'adequate safety arrangements' had not been in place.
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arrangements → leave → place
Another team had already done some work on the pylon, but Mr Pugh had not been aware that the section on to which he clipped was no longer secure.
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he → do → which
Gavin Pugh, from Bangor in north Wales, plunged about 30ft from an electricity pylon on which he was working in East Staffordshire - and has now won at least £10million in compensation
He unknowingly clipped his safety line on to a section of the structure (pictured) that had already been worked on by other workers, leaving it only secure at one end
The firm was fined £240,000 and was also sued by Mr Pugh at London's High Court.
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firm → plunge → Court
The money is to compensate Mr Pugh for his injuries and lost future earnings, as well as to fund 24-hour live-in carers and the £1million-plus rehabilitation costs associated with his disability.
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money → compensate → disability
In a statement post-settlement, Mr Pugh's lawyers said that before the fall he was an 'active and sociable person' who enjoyed his job and had his own fishing boat.
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who → say → boat
But his injuries had affected 'every part of his life,' they said, leaving him unable to walk again and suffering with 'life-changing physical limitations' and 'significant psychological consequences'.
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they → affect → limitations
Mr Pugh's employer agreed to pay compensation, with interim payments secured by his lawyers to fund his private rehab and care plus a final eight-figure settlement agreed between the parties.
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employer → agree → parties
In a statement after the settlement, Mr Pugh said: 'The fall turned my life upside down.
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fall → say → life
I wasn't able to work or go out with my friends.
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I → work → friends
My life fell apart.
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life → fall → ?
The interim payments helped massively.
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payments → help → ?
I wouldn't have been able to do anything without them.
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I → do → them
Gavin Pugh, pictured before the accident, later sued his Cheshire-based employer Wood Transmission and Distribution Ltd over what happened to him
Mr Pugh has now agreed an out-of-court settlement with the firm
Mr Pugh's employer agreed to pay compensation, with interim payments secured by his lawyers to fund his private rehab and care plus a final eight-figure settlement
'
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employer → picture → rehab
They made sure I was able to pay for any treatment or rehabilitation that I needed.
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I → make → that
They also helped in securing my new bungalow.
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They → help → bungalow
'The settlement ensures I'm comfortable for the rest of my life and that I'll be looked after.
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I → ensure → life
I've been able to get back into some of my past hobbies.
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I → get → hobbies
I'm fishing and I'm able to get out and about.
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I → fish → ?
I'm able to go out with my friends again and enjoy myself, albeit not to the same extent, but I'm still happy.'
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I → go → extent
Following a magistrates' court hearing in 2024, the company was fined £240,000 for breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
HSE inspector Robert Gidman said the 'tragic incident' could have been prevented if the company had 'put in place adequate arrangements to protect its workers from harm'.
He added: 'Proper assessment of the risks and consideration of work methods, adequate staffing and clear procedures for transferring towers between teams could have enabled this work to go ahead without incident.
'
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Instead, because of the company's shortcomings, a worker has sadly and unnecessarily been left paralysed.'
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worker → leave → shortcomings
The Aporia
