Engineer killed in accident at windmill

A VOLUNTEER engineer has died after getting his clothes stuck in an engine used to power a windmill.

Peter Lett, 53, suffered a head injury in the “tragic accident” while working on the oil engine which is used to power grinding stones on the ground floor.

He was airlifted to hospital following the incident at Heckington Windmill between Boston and Sleaford, Lincs, but died shortly afterwards. In a statement on its Facebook page, mill volunteers sent their condolences to Mr Lett’s wife and two daughters.

They said: “Pete will be missed enormously for his enthusiasm and experience and most of all his kind and good nature.

“Pete leaves a wife Anne, who is a Minister in the Sleaford Methodist Circuit, and two daughters, Rebecca and Catherine.”

The incident, which happened at around 12.45pm on Sunday, has been referred to Lincolnshire county council’s health and safety executive and the coroner.

The windmill stopped producing flour in 2010, but restarted four years later after a £1million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund helped to pay for its restoration.

The eight-sailed mill was one of only seven of its kind ever built and is the only one to still work.