05/09/2006

Lorry driver dies at council landfill site

A lorry driver has died following an incident at a Belfast City Council landfill site in north Belfast yesterday afternoon.

Police and the Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene at Dargan Road, close to the shores of Belfast Lough shortly after 3pm.

The man is understood to have been dumping rubbish for a private contractor when he began to sink into the rubbish.

The man became trapped under the rubble and despite efforts by the emergency services, he died at the scene.

Ulster Unionist councillor Jim Rodgers said that some of the staff at the landfill site tried to drag the man out using their hands and the emergency services were called.

He said: "They recovered his body but he had obviously suffocated. This is the first time this has happened to my knowledge. A full investigation is being carried out by the council and we also have the Health and Safety Executive involved."

The site is believed to have been in a treacherous condition because of recent heavy rain.

(EF)

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