Devon and Cornwall Police said in a statement issued today (July 13): “The fire service, police, air ambulance and ambulance attended the scene but tragically the teenager was pronounced dead at the scene.” Luke was a native of the area, police said, and his family has asked for privacy as they come to terms with their loss. Due to his age, the circumstances surrounding Luke’s death will be the focus of a joint investigation by the police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Farmers Weekly reported earlier this month that the Health and Safety Executive had issued a statement saying he was trapped and killed in a bale wrapping machine. PlymouthLive reports tributes for Luke, with a local saying: “RIP beautiful soul, may you rest with the angels in heaven. Much love and condolences to your family and friends.” Another wrote: “Such a lovely young man. [I’m sending] healing thoughts and love to Luke’s family.” A total of 123 workers were killed in work-related accidents in Britain last year, according to HSE figures. The data covers the period from April 2021 to March 2022, when most pandemic restrictions were lifted and the economy began to reopen. The industries with the highest deaths were construction (30), agriculture, forestry and fishing (22) and manufacturing (22). READ WHY MPS WEAR WHITE FLOWERS HSE chief executive Sarah Albon said that while Britain is one of the safest countries in the world to work in, the evidence shows that efforts must continue to ensure safety remains a priority. He added: “Every loss of life is a tragedy and we are committed to making workplaces safer.” The data refer to occupational accidents and do not include deaths from occupational diseases or those resulting from exposure in certain occupations. The HSE has also published annual figures on mesothelioma, a cancer which can be caused by previous exposure to asbestos. The figures show 2,544 people died from the disease in 2020, in line with an average of 2,523 deaths over the previous eight years. Today’s mesothelioma deaths reflect asbestos exposure that occurred mostly before the 1980s. Annual deaths are expected to decline over the next 10 years.
