Estefania Fonseca faced a heartbreaking decision after her partner, Miguel Galvao, was critically injured in a workplace accident involving a jet hose explosion. Miguel, a father of three, was injured while working as a drainage engineer for Lanes Group Limited on December 10. Despite being placed in an induced coma and undergoing treatment for two weeks, doctors informed Estefania that there was no hope of recovery for Miguel.
Given the devastating circumstances, Estefania had to make the difficult choice of whether to switch off life support for Miguel. She decided to delay the decision until after Christmas to shield their children from the tragic event. This decision was made to ensure that the holiday season was not marred by the loss of their father.
The loss of Miguel has had a profound impact on the family, with the children struggling to come to terms with their father’s absence. The financial strain following Miguel’s passing has added to the family’s challenges, as they now rely on benefits after losing his income. The dreams Miguel had for the future, including buying a house and retiring in Portugal, will remain unfulfilled.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive revealed that Lanes Group Limited failed to provide a safe working environment for its employees, leading to the tragic incident. The company was fined £800,000 and ordered to pay additional costs for breaching health and safety regulations. The importance of following safety protocols, such as securing jetting hoses, was underscored by the Water Jetting Association in response to the incident.
HSE inspector Marcus Pope emphasized the need for companies to implement proper safety measures, especially during non-routine work in challenging conditions like freezing temperatures. The tragic outcome of this incident serves as a stark reminder of the significance of adhering to safety guidelines to prevent similar accidents in the future.