Legal News
Sandringham gardener survives 10 minutes underwater after lawnmower accident (23 January 2014)
Date: 23/01/2014
A gardener on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk spent 10 minutes underwater after a sit-on lawnmower he was using plunged into a lake.
Lee Abel was using the sit-on mower on 8 July last year and was strapped onto the vehicle when it fell into the lake on the Queen’s estate.
Mr Abel was eventually rescued by head gardener Martin Woods and two police officers, who waded into the lake and dragged him out still strapped to the mower.
Mr Abel – who is in his thirties and lives on the Sandringham estate – was taken to Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridge in a critical condition, but has since made a full recovery.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the safety roll bar was not elevated at the time of the accident – and this could have prevented Mr Abel from being trapped on the vehicle.
The report into the accident states that no health and safety issues were found in the management of the estate. It is thought the machine rolled into the lake after the rear wheels lost traction on the grass.
The accident report – marked restricted – has been released under the Freedom of Information Act. It recommends the Sandringham estate re-assesses the risk of lone working practices – and found a total of four risk assessment procedures out-of-date, but no evidence of health and safety breaches.
Mr Abel’s rescuers are to receive commendations from the Royal Humane Society for their actions in saving him.
Sandringham estate head gardener Martin Woods and PC Keith Hunt and PC Darren Wynne will receive Royal Humane Society testimonials on parchment.
The police officers will also to receive resuscitation certificates in recognition of their efforts to revive Mr Abel after the incident.
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