Bangor worker paralysed after falling 30ft wins £10m from employer

The Cheshire-based firm was fined £240,000 at a magistrates’ court hearing in 2024 over the HSE’s findings, before facing High Court proceedings brought by Pugh, from Bangor, Gwynedd.

HSE inspector Robert Gidman told the court the “tragic incident” could have been prevented if the company had “adequate arrangements to protect its workers from harm”.

The pylon in Staffordshire had already been worked on by others, with a nut left loose, but this was not something Pugh knew about.

“Proper assessment of the risks and consideration of work methods, adequate staffing and clear procedures for transferring towers between teams could have enabled this work to go ahead without incident,” Gidman added.

“Instead, because of the company’s shortcomings, a worker has sadly and unnecessarily been left paralysed.”

After out-of-court negotiations, a care and compensation package was agreed, described by Pugh’s lawyers as worth “eight figures”.

The money was compensation for his injuries and lost future earnings, as well as to help fund 24-hour live-in carers and more than £1m in rehabilitation costs.