Investigation underway after Everton Stadium death
Michael Jones, a 26-year-old Everton fan from Kirkby, died yesterday while working on the football club’s £500m ground at Bramley-Moore Dock.
Laing O’Rourke, the main contractor on the 53,000-capacity Everton Stadium said Jones was carrying out work for a subcontractor when the incident occurred.
The construction company said he was “seriously injured” on site before being taken to hospital where he died.
“We are shocked and saddened by [yesterday’s] tragic incident and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased man and our wider project team.
“The police and the Health and Safety Executive are on site and we have suspended work until further notice. We will cooperate fully with any investigation that follows.”
A statement from Jones’s family issued by Merseyside Police said: “The family would like to thank everyone for their ongoing support. It is with our greatest sadness that our beloved son, brother uncle, and friend Michael has sadly passed away.
“He was a lifelong blue who was so happy to be working on the new stadium. We want to thank the NHS staff and work colleagues who did their best for Michael. He will be missed beyond words.”
A statement from Everton FC said the club was “heartbroken by the news”.
“The thoughts and condolences of everyone connected with Everton are with his family, friends and colleagues at this unimaginably sad time,” the statement added.
Work on the project has been suspended while Merseyside Police and the Health and Safety Executive carry out their investigations into the incident.
Figures published by HSE in July showed that construction is the UK’s most dangerous profession in terms of workplace fatalities.
Of the 135 workplace deaths in the UK in 2022/2023, 45 were on construction sites, according to HSE. That number is substantially higher than the year before when the HSE logged 30 fatal injuries in the construction sector.
