A coroner has heard the harrowing details of what was described as the 'worst death imaginable' for a British electrician who received a massive 11,000-volt electric shock and was then forced to wait 15 agonising minutes for emergency services to reach him.
Matthew Digby, a 32-year-old father from Staverton, Gloucestershire, was working on a project at the Tewkesbury Garden Centre when the catastrophic incident occurred on 22 November 2022. Despite the frantic efforts of his colleagues, the location's remote access and single-track road tragically delayed crucial medical assistance.
A Preventable Tragedy
Gloucestershire's senior coroner, Katy Skerrett, concluded that Mr. Digby's death was the result of an accident. However, the inquest revealed a series of devastating failures that contributed to the outcome.
The court heard that the high-voltage cable Mr. Digby was working near should have been made 'dead'—completely de-energised—before any work commenced. Astonishingly, it was not. Furthermore, a crucial permit-to-work system, designed to prevent exactly this type of accident, was not properly implemented or followed on site.
Agonising Wait for Help
Perhaps the most distressing detail to emerge was the length of time it took for emergency crews to administer aid. Despite being called immediately, the first paramedic was unable to get his vehicle down the narrow, congested track.
He was forced to abandon his vehicle and proceed on foot, losing vital minutes. A rapid response vehicle and an air ambulance were also dispatched, but the critical window to save Mr. Digby was closing fast.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving behind a devastated family, including his partner and their young son.
A Call for Change
The case has starkly highlighted critical issues in remote workplace safety and emergency response planning. It raises urgent questions about the enforcement of health and safety protocols on sites with difficult access.
This tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of the paramount importance of rigorous safety procedures in high-risk industries. A family's world has been shattered by a loss that, according to the evidence presented, could have been prevented.
