Wall collapse at Ageas Bowl cricket stadium 'killed worker' court hears

Phillip Carsley, 34, was crushed when two sections of wall fell over without warning, Winchester Crown Court heard.

It was Mr Carsley’s first day working for Prefix Ltd after more than a year without work.

Darren Gilmore was a foreman overseeing the placing of the prefabricated concrete sections at the cricket ground at West End, near Southampton, in February 2010.

He told the jury yesterday: “There was no noise or anything, it just went.

“It all happened so fast. You don’t expect it.

“The weight of the first wall took that one over too.” The court heard how workers found Mr Carsley with his legs under a wall. A crane was then used to free him, but he was not breathing when paramedics arrived and CPR failed to revive him.

A post-mortem found the injuries would have killed him within minutes.

Ian Gould, 53, a director of Prefix Ltd, of East Riding, Yorkshire, denies manslaughter by gross negligence and a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Andrew Scott Ltd, of Port Talbot, south Wales, denies two breaches of the same act.

The trial heard that the walls would have been more secure if a header wall had been installed, but holes for bolts were out of line, said Mr Gilmore.

Andrew Langdon QC, defending Gould, asked Mr Gilmore if he thought the site was ready for their work. “No,” said Mr Gilmore.

Brackets to attach the walls to the ground had not arrived.

The workers, said Mr Gilmore, were also expecting the concrete sections to have holes in them.

In a statement, Lindsay Carsley spoke of her brother’s excitement at starting the new job: “It was his first day back at work since Christmas 2008.

“He was very excited about the new job and couldn’t wait to get started.”

The trial has heard that two days later another wall section toppled over, although no one was hurt.

The prosecution say the death could have been prevented if Gould carried out his safety responsibilities.

Proceeding.