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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Abigail O'Leary

First picture of dad-of-two crushed to death in mill at Port Talbot steelworks

This is the first picture of a dad-of-two who was crushed to death in a machine at  Port Talbot steelworks.

Justin Day, 44, tragically died while servicing the hot mill of the giant Tata plant in South Wales.

The engineer was described as a "wonderful father" by family and friends.

Workers say he was inside the machinery when it was accidentally turned on, crushing him inside.

One said: "It should never have happened. Justin was inside the machine but the work off as complete and it was switched back on.

"By the time anyone realised what had happened it was too late.

"It's an awful tragedy."

Tata Steel said it has begun an urgent investigation into his death and the Health and Safety Executive has also launched its own inquiry.

Engineer Justin Day pictured here with wife Zoe (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

Emergency services rushed to reports of a worker needing "urgent medical attention" at around 2pm on Wednesday.

An air ambulance and Hazardous Area Response Team vehicles attended the site but Justin could not be saved.

Tributes to Justin, of Swansea, South Wales, described him as a "wonderful" person and "lovely" father-of-two.

Friend Caroline Haslam said: "Absolutely devastated for your beautiful family to lose such a wonderful man who thought highly of his family my heat breaks for you all."

Another consoled his wife Zoe, saying: "I’m so sorry for your loss Zoe. Justin was lovely and taken way to soon. I’m so sorry thinking of you all."

A Tata Steel in Europe spokesman said: "We have to report the sad news that a contractor colleague working at our Port Talbot site has died following an incident on the site.

Family and friends have paid tribute to "wonderful father" Justin after the industrial accident at the plant (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends. A full investigation has been launched."

Roy Rickhuss, General Secretary of trade union Community, said: "This is absolutely tragic news and our thoughts go out to the family, friends and colleagues of the worker who has been killed.

"We will be pressing Tata Steel to carry out a full investigation and ensuring that all lessons are learnt and procedures and processes are reviewed and necessary changes are implemented so all workers at the Port Talbot plant are safe at work.”

The steelworks is the largest in the UK and employs more than 4,000 people.

Two workers suffered minor injuries in an explosion in April this year when a huge mushroom cloud fired into the air.

The blast - which was described as "like a scene from Independence Day" - was caused when a train carrying molten metal caused a number of fires.

An inquest is due to be hedd and the Health and Safety Executive are investigating.

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