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Fire chief sorry for mineshaft death of Alison Hume | Fire chief sorry for mineshaft death of Alison Hume |
(40 minutes later) | |
Strathclyde Fire and Rescue has apologised over the death of a woman who fell down a mineshaft in Ayrshire. | Strathclyde Fire and Rescue has apologised over the death of a woman who fell down a mineshaft in Ayrshire. |
Alison Hume, 44, lay for six hours after health and safety rules delayed a rescue at Galston in 2008. | Alison Hume, 44, lay for six hours after health and safety rules delayed a rescue at Galston in 2008. |
The fire service had initially refused to say sorry after a fatal accident inquiry report on Wednesday, which said she may have lived if rescued sooner. | |
However, an apology was issued after First Minister Alex Salmond ordered a new probe into Mrs Hume's death. | |
The first minister had also said the family of Alison Hume deserved an apology in the wake of the incident. | The first minister had also said the family of Alison Hume deserved an apology in the wake of the incident. |
Following Mr Salmond's announcement, chief officer of Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Brian Sweeney said: "Yesterday, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue received Sheriff Leslie's determination regarding the FAI into the death of Alison Hume. | Following Mr Salmond's announcement, chief officer of Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Brian Sweeney said: "Yesterday, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue received Sheriff Leslie's determination regarding the FAI into the death of Alison Hume. |
"The report was more than 90 pages long and we are now taking the time to fully digest all that it has to say. | "The report was more than 90 pages long and we are now taking the time to fully digest all that it has to say. |
"In the meantime, and for the sake of clarity, I would like to reiterate our deep and profound regret over this incident; and for the avoidance of any doubt, to apologise to Alison's family and friends for its tragic outcome." | "In the meantime, and for the sake of clarity, I would like to reiterate our deep and profound regret over this incident; and for the avoidance of any doubt, to apologise to Alison's family and friends for its tragic outcome." |
The chief inspector of fire and rescue authorities, Steven Torrie, will head up the new inquiry - only the second of its kind - which is expected to get under way shortly and to last several months. | The chief inspector of fire and rescue authorities, Steven Torrie, will head up the new inquiry - only the second of its kind - which is expected to get under way shortly and to last several months. |
Mrs Hume, a lawyer and mother-of-two, fell into the decommissioned Goatfoot Colliery mineshaft shortly before or after midnight on 26 July 2008. | Mrs Hume, a lawyer and mother-of-two, fell into the decommissioned Goatfoot Colliery mineshaft shortly before or after midnight on 26 July 2008. |
Emergency services were called to the scene at about 02:15 after she was found by her daughter and was freed by mountain rescue experts at about 07:42, but later died in Kilmarnock's Crosshouse Hospital. | Emergency services were called to the scene at about 02:15 after she was found by her daughter and was freed by mountain rescue experts at about 07:42, but later died in Kilmarnock's Crosshouse Hospital. |
The fatal accident inquiry into her death, overseen by Sheriff Desmond Leslie, concluded Mrs Hume may have lived if emergency services - and the fire service in particular - had removed her sooner. | The fatal accident inquiry into her death, overseen by Sheriff Desmond Leslie, concluded Mrs Hume may have lived if emergency services - and the fire service in particular - had removed her sooner. |
The sheriff's ruling highlighted procedural failings which led to the delay, and said senior officers on the scene "rigidly stood by their operational guidelines". | The sheriff's ruling highlighted procedural failings which led to the delay, and said senior officers on the scene "rigidly stood by their operational guidelines". |
Speaking during first minister's questions at Holyrood, Mr Salmond said the FAI determination carried "many important lessons and issues", adding: "What people will now be looking for is an indication of the action that now must follow." | Speaking during first minister's questions at Holyrood, Mr Salmond said the FAI determination carried "many important lessons and issues", adding: "What people will now be looking for is an indication of the action that now must follow." |
"Given the serious nature of the determination by Sheriff Leslie, I've asked the minister for community safety to make such a request of the chief inspector," he said. | "Given the serious nature of the determination by Sheriff Leslie, I've asked the minister for community safety to make such a request of the chief inspector," he said. |
"He will then carry out a comprehensive inquiry and the report is then laid before this parliament. | "He will then carry out a comprehensive inquiry and the report is then laid before this parliament. |
"It will then be for ministers to decide what direction, if any, can be made." | "It will then be for ministers to decide what direction, if any, can be made." |
The first minister told parliament: "This is the most serious nature of action that can be made by ministers under the legislation - I think the circumstances of the case reflect it and require it." | The first minister told parliament: "This is the most serious nature of action that can be made by ministers under the legislation - I think the circumstances of the case reflect it and require it." |
Mr Salmond also said there was "nothing in Sheriff Leslie's determination which questions that the firefighters and fire officers on site - every single one of them - had the aim and intention of rescuing Alison Hume". | Mr Salmond also said there was "nothing in Sheriff Leslie's determination which questions that the firefighters and fire officers on site - every single one of them - had the aim and intention of rescuing Alison Hume". |
He added there was "nothing in the determination to deflect from the general admiration and support that we give the fire services and our other blue light services, which do such a fantastic job on Scotland's behalf". | He added there was "nothing in the determination to deflect from the general admiration and support that we give the fire services and our other blue light services, which do such a fantastic job on Scotland's behalf". |