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Didcot power station: hunt for trapped people 'could take months' Didcot power station: hunt for trapped people 'could take months'
(6 months later)
It could be “many months” before the bodies of three people killed in the collapse of Didcot A power station are recovered, officials have confirmed.It could be “many months” before the bodies of three people killed in the collapse of Didcot A power station are recovered, officials have confirmed.
On Thursday, the public were allowed their closest view yet of the scene of the accident, where Scott Chilton, assistant chief constable of Thames Valley police, admitted none of the rubble had been moved. He confirmed that rescue workers were no closer to retrieving the victims and faced a long effort to clear the site.On Thursday, the public were allowed their closest view yet of the scene of the accident, where Scott Chilton, assistant chief constable of Thames Valley police, admitted none of the rubble had been moved. He confirmed that rescue workers were no closer to retrieving the victims and faced a long effort to clear the site.
“At the moment we are seeking specialist advice from experts and engineers to understand what is the safest way to get access,” Chilton said, adding that it had been neither “appropriate” nor safe to begin digging through the wreckage.“At the moment we are seeking specialist advice from experts and engineers to understand what is the safest way to get access,” Chilton said, adding that it had been neither “appropriate” nor safe to begin digging through the wreckage.
“At this stage the building behind us is still unsafe,” he added. “We are still seeking specialist advice on when and how we will be able to get access to the trapped persons. This will be an incredibly complex and difficult engineering operation.“At this stage the building behind us is still unsafe,” he added. “We are still seeking specialist advice on when and how we will be able to get access to the trapped persons. This will be an incredibly complex and difficult engineering operation.
“At the same time I’m also making provisions for police, working alongside the Health and Safety Executive, to find the best way to recover those trapped persons. It will take many weeks, and in reality more likely many months, before we are able to get access to those people that are trapped.”“At the same time I’m also making provisions for police, working alongside the Health and Safety Executive, to find the best way to recover those trapped persons. It will take many weeks, and in reality more likely many months, before we are able to get access to those people that are trapped.”
The 10-storey concrete and steel building that housed the condemned power station’s boilers unexpectedly collapsed on Tuesday last week. One man, named on social media as Mick Collings, died and five more were treated in hospital.The 10-storey concrete and steel building that housed the condemned power station’s boilers unexpectedly collapsed on Tuesday last week. One man, named on social media as Mick Collings, died and five more were treated in hospital.
Three people were trapped beneath the rubble, sparking a massive but unsuccessful overnight rescue operation involving more than 100 people.Three people were trapped beneath the rubble, sparking a massive but unsuccessful overnight rescue operation involving more than 100 people.
Related: Didcot A accident: company had never knocked down a power station before
Peter Baker, the HSE’s chief inspector of construction, said his agency had provided technical advice and support to the initial response and the ongoing work at the site. “We also need to look and understand what happened here,” he said. “And, given the sheer scale and complexity of what that involves, this may take some time. A joint investigation is now under way between the HSE and Thames Valley police, under the work-related deaths protocol.Peter Baker, the HSE’s chief inspector of construction, said his agency had provided technical advice and support to the initial response and the ongoing work at the site. “We also need to look and understand what happened here,” he said. “And, given the sheer scale and complexity of what that involves, this may take some time. A joint investigation is now under way between the HSE and Thames Valley police, under the work-related deaths protocol.
“Everyone is working very hard to identify the causes as quickly as possible and also to see what lessons can be learned in order that we can avoid a tragedy such as this in the future.”“Everyone is working very hard to identify the causes as quickly as possible and also to see what lessons can be learned in order that we can avoid a tragedy such as this in the future.”