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| Workers die in rail bridge falls | Workers die in rail bridge falls |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| Two workmen have died after falling from the Forth Bridge and the Tay Rail Bridge within hours of each other. | Two workmen have died after falling from the Forth Bridge and the Tay Rail Bridge within hours of each other. |
| Robert MacDonald, 52, from Harthill, who was a member of the Forth Bridge painting team, fell about 150ft from a ladder at about 2100 GMT on Wednesday. | |
| Another worker, David Rodger, 44, from Cowdenbeath in Fife, died after falling onto a ledge while working on the Tay Bridge on Thursday morning. | |
| Network Rail has launched an investigation into the deaths. | |
| Mr MacDonald was killed when he fell from a ladder on the north side of the Forth Bridge onto scaffolding below the railway tracks shortly before 2100 GMT. | |
| Police, paramedics and life boat crews were called out but he was pronounced dead at the scene. | |
| Inquiries surrounding the death of Mr Rodger are ongoing, although it is thought he may have fallen about 6ft. | Inquiries surrounding the death of Mr Rodger are ongoing, although it is thought he may have fallen about 6ft. |
| Police are also not ruling out the possibility he may have died of natural causes. | Police are also not ruling out the possibility he may have died of natural causes. |
| These tragic events have deeply shocked and saddened everyone linked to these projects David SimpsonNetwork Rail Scotland | These tragic events have deeply shocked and saddened everyone linked to these projects David SimpsonNetwork Rail Scotland |
| A British Transport Police spokesman said: "At 6.40am on Thursday, 28 January, BTP received a report of a man having fallen from a ladder onto a ledge under the Tay Rail Bridge. | A British Transport Police spokesman said: "At 6.40am on Thursday, 28 January, BTP received a report of a man having fallen from a ladder onto a ledge under the Tay Rail Bridge. |
| "The man, who was a contractor, died at the scene. | "The man, who was a contractor, died at the scene. |
| "Police and paramedics attended the scene and HM Railway Inspectorate has been informed." | "Police and paramedics attended the scene and HM Railway Inspectorate has been informed." |
| A report will be sent to the local procurator fiscal. | A report will be sent to the local procurator fiscal. |
| David Simpson, Network Rail Scotland route director, said his thoughts were with the men's families and their co-workers. | David Simpson, Network Rail Scotland route director, said his thoughts were with the men's families and their co-workers. |
| He added: "It is with great sadness that we have received news of the deaths of two of our contractors who were working on the Forth and Tay Bridges. | He added: "It is with great sadness that we have received news of the deaths of two of our contractors who were working on the Forth and Tay Bridges. |
| "At 8.50pm last night, a member of the painting team working at the Forth Bridge fell from height and subsequently died from his injuries. | "At 8.50pm last night, a member of the painting team working at the Forth Bridge fell from height and subsequently died from his injuries. |
| "At around 7am this morning, we received reports of a fall at the Tay Bridge. Sadly, this accident has also resulted in the death of one of our contractors. | "At around 7am this morning, we received reports of a fall at the Tay Bridge. Sadly, this accident has also resulted in the death of one of our contractors. |
| "These tragic events have deeply shocked and saddened everyone linked to these projects. | "These tragic events have deeply shocked and saddened everyone linked to these projects. |
| The incident at the Tay Bridge happened at about 0640 GMT | The incident at the Tay Bridge happened at about 0640 GMT |
| "Such events have become extremely rare in the last decade as a result of rigorous safety regimes on both bridges. An investigation into the causes of these accidents is already underway." | "Such events have become extremely rare in the last decade as a result of rigorous safety regimes on both bridges. An investigation into the causes of these accidents is already underway." |
| Ian Prosser, the director of railway safety at the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), said inquiries would take place to determine whether safety procedures needed to be tightened following the tragedies. | Ian Prosser, the director of railway safety at the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), said inquiries would take place to determine whether safety procedures needed to be tightened following the tragedies. |
| He said: "Our thoughts are with the families of the two men involved in these separate tragic events. | He said: "Our thoughts are with the families of the two men involved in these separate tragic events. |
| "Our inspectors have launched an investigation into the Forth bridge accident and we are awaiting further details about the Tay bridge incident. | "Our inspectors have launched an investigation into the Forth bridge accident and we are awaiting further details about the Tay bridge incident. |
| "We expect to investigate both to find out exactly what happened and quickly identify whether more should be done to prevent other deaths or injuries." | "We expect to investigate both to find out exactly what happened and quickly identify whether more should be done to prevent other deaths or injuries." |
| Rail services across the Tay Bridge, which spans the Firth of Tay, are unaffected by the incident. Services across the Forth Bridge are also unaffected. | Rail services across the Tay Bridge, which spans the Firth of Tay, are unaffected by the incident. Services across the Forth Bridge are also unaffected. |