Great Yarmouth: Inquest Rules Deaths Of Four Men On A Building Site As Accidental

14 February 2014, 13:12 | Updated: 14 February 2014, 14:13

The deaths of four men on a building site in Great Yarmouth 3 years ago were an accident.

After a week long inquest in Norwich a jury has ruled the deaths of the men from West Suffolk were accidental.

It happened at Claxton Engineering in North River Road in January 2011 when a steel structure fell on them. 

Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team and the Health and Safety Executive launched a joint investigation into the deaths but no charges were ever brought.

30-year-old Dan Hazelton and his brother 26-year-old Tom Hazelton and 42-year-old Peter Johnson all from Stanton, near Bury St Edmunds died alongside 28-year-old Adam Taylor who also lived in West Suffolk.

A family read out a statement outside the inquest:

Great Yarmouth Inquest Family Statement

"We will never be able to come to terms with our devastating loss; four men went to work that day and never came home again.
 
The evidence clearly showed that Dan, Tom, Peter and Adam were conscientious and skilled workers and no concerns were raised about the steel work they were doing.
 
We hope the Health and Safety Executive will take appropriate action against those responsible so justice is done, and that lessons will be learned to ensure such a terrible tragedy never happens again.
 
We would like to thank those who tried to rescue the men and for all the support we've received over the last three years."

The Health and Safety Executive also read a statement outside the inquest:

Great Yarmouth Inquest HSE Statement