Injured Birse Metro worker dies on Christmas Day

A subcontractor working on a Birse Metro job in London died on Christmas Day following an accident on 2 December.

The unnamed 23-year-old man was trimming a pile cap with a breaker on Tottenham Court Road when a high voltage cable next to him exploded, the Health and Safety Executive confirmed.

He suffered 60% burns and was taken to the specialist burns unit at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford where he remained in a critical condition until he died on 25 December.

Birse Metro, a subsidiary of Balfour Beatty, said in a statement: "The incident is currently under investigation so we are unable to comment further at this time.

"Birse Metro is co-operating fully with the appropriate authorities in this investigation. Our thoughts are with the family, friends and co-workers of the deceased man."