Paper mill worker seriously injured in incident with forklift

A Fife paper mill worker was seriously injured following an accident involving a forklift yesterday.

The man, who is in his 50s, was airlifted to Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, with what are understood to be critical injuries after he was crushed against a wall by the vehicle.

The incident happened at the Sapphire Paper Mill in Leslie at around 10.40am.

Northumberlandbased Fourstones Group, which runs the mill on Glenwood Road, has declined to comment but the Health and Safety Executive is investigating the circumstances.

Locals reported seeing the air ambulance land next to the mill, which has been producing thousands of tonnes of tissue for commercial use every year since it opened in 2010.

A source said the worker had been pinned to the wall by the forklift and looked to be badly hurt.

He said: “Everyone was really shocked. I hope he’s going to be OK.”

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said officers had been called by the ambulance service amid reports a man had been struck by a forklift truck.

“The man in his 50s was taken by air ambulance to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee with serious injuries,” she said.

“The Health and Safety Executive have been notified.”

Sapphire Mill, formerly known as Fettykill Mill, lay empty for four years before being taken over by owners Peter and Pauline Duxbury, who said it was a perfect location to expand their business.

It was previously owned by Smith Anderson and at one time was one of several paper mills throughout Fife.

It is now the only mill left in the region, manufacturing cellulose wadding and hospital disposable underpants as well as tissue for UK healthcare and industrial markets.