The family of an Ayrshire man who froze to death whilst working at a windfarm have received a six-figure sum of compensation.
Ronnie Alexander, 74, tragically died at the Afton windfarm near New Cumnock after being stranded during a severe snow storm.
The security guard from Kilmarnock succumbed to hypothermia after his cabin generator failed leaving him without electricity or heat.
Heartbroken widow Mary says her family have been put through hell.
The tragedy suffered by the dad-of-two and grandfather-of-three happened just months before the couple's 50th wedding anniversary.
The family compensation comes exactly one year after employers CSM Facilities and site bosses Farrans Construction were fined £860,000 over failings that led to the death.
Mary, 82, said the only positive she can hope for is that construction bosses everywhere make things safer for workers.
She said: “The last few years have been utterly hellish. Everything about the loss of Ronnie and life without him has been a heartbreak.
“Now that all the court hearings are finished it would be wrong to say I’m ‘happy’ or ‘better’– I’m only glad those parts are over and I can focus my full attention on my family.
“I just hope lessons can be learned from all this by those who operate in construction or remote locations.
“Keeping people safe should not be a hassle or an afterthought. It should be priority number one to avoid these very tragedies.
“I’d finally just like to thank everyone who supported us but we now just wish to have our privacy respected as we focus on the future.”
Ronnie was found in deep snow after the alarm was raised when he failed to return home from a 12-hour shift, on January 21, 2018.
His disappearance came just hours after a yellow warning was issued for heavy snow.
Police Scotland’s Mountain Rescue Team found him alive but unresponsive five hours later, nearly one mile from the cabin.
It is thought Ronnie left his cabin in a desperate bid to find a second site cabin in the hope it still had power so he could survive the night.
He was airlifted to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary but died later on the morning of January 22 – the cause of death was confirmed as hypothermia.
Ronnie’s daughter Laura said at the time: “The only saving grace is rescuers found our dad and the hospital kept him alive long enough so he wasn’t alone at the very end and we got to say goodbye.”
Glasgow-based employers CSM Facilities and wind farm bosses Farrans Construction, who is based in Belfast, were fined a total of £868,000 at Ayr Sheriff Court in November 2021.
The two firms admitted to health and safety breaches that contributed to the fatal accident.
The compensation has been paid to the family following an employer’s liability legal action with Digby Brown Solicitors who sought civil damages against the two firms.
Damian White, partner in Digby Brown’s Ayr office, said: “The heartbreak and trauma felt by the Alexander family is something very few could fully appreciate.
“Throughout the numerous investigations and processes that followed this tragic and avoidable incident they have continued to show and express dignity and strength.
“It should be a given that loved ones come home from their work which is why safety regulations exist – and that is why it is right the two companies were convicted and why it is right they recognise the loss felt by the Alexander family via civil damages.”
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