HS2 fatality: Contractor in 70s dies while working on High Speed 2 near Birmingham in 'first fatal industrial incident’ | The Sun
A MAN working on the High Speed 2 rail link site near Birmingham has died.
Emergency services rushed to the scene on Middle Bickenhill Lane, Solihull at 4.09pm yesterday where they found the contractor, in his 70s, in cardiac arrest.
He was rushed to hospital in an air ambulance but was pronounced dead a short time later.
An HS2 Ltd spokesperson said: “We are deeply saddened to confirm that an employee working for a company in the supply chain of HS2’s contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI died today following an incident on site near Marston Green on Thursday.
"Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time.
"We are working with our construction partner and the relevant authorities to understand the cause of this incident.”
It is believed to be the first fatal "industrial incident" during the construction of the line.
A West Midlands Fire Service spokesman said: "We had a call at 4.58pm on Thursday, a request to assist the ambulance service in Middle Bickenhill Lane.
"We sent a 4×4 brigade response vehicle and a fire engine from Sheldon and Hay Mills.
"The incident involved a man believed to be in his early 70s in cardiac arrest.
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"Crews were required to assist ambulance staff in carrying the man to the air ambulance."
A spokesman for the ambulance service said: "We were called to an industrial incident near to Middle Bickenhill Lane at 4.09pm on Thursday.
"One ambulance, a paramedic officer, a MERIT trauma doctor and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford attended the scene.
"On arrival, we discovered one male patient who was in a serious condition.
"Following treatment at the scene, the man was airlifted to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire for further treatment."
It comes after ministers finally admitted last month that the network will be delayed – but trains will eventually go to London.
Construction of the super speedy line – which will go from London up to Crewe via Birmingham – will be delayed by another two years, Transport Secretary Mark Harper said.
He blamed "significant inflationary pressure and increased project costs" for the delay.
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In a written ministerial statement, he said: "The Government is committed to delivering HS2 Phase 2a between Birmingham and Crewe.
"We have seen significant inflationary pressure and increased project costs, and so we will rephase construction by two years, with an aim to deliver high-speed services to Crewe and the north west as soon as possible after accounting for the delay in construction."
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