Worker paralysed in 30ft fall from pylon gets £10m payout
A maintenance worker who was left paralysed after a 30ft fall from a pylon has secured an eight-figure compensation settlement. The court found that his employer failed to implement adequate safety procedures.
Why it matters
The case underscores the critical importance of workplace safety regulations and the legal consequences for companies that fail to protect employees in high-risk industries.
Image source, Champion News Image caption, Gavin Pugh was 33 when he fell 30ft and was left paralysed
A maintenance worker whose life was "turned upside down" when he fell 30ft from a power line and was left paralysed has won at least £10m in compensation.
Gavin Pugh was dismantling a pylon in April 2022 when he unknowingly clipped his safety line to a section that was only secure at one end.
His safety rope slipped loose, causing him to plunge to the ground and suffer life-changing injuries to his brain, neck, shoulder, ribs and internal organs which mean he needs a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
Pugh, who was 33 at the time, sued his employer, Wood Transmission and Distribution Ltd, after the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found "adequate safety arrangements" had not been in place.
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