Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BINMAN KILLED BY HIS LORRY
Devastated colleagues pay tribute to tragic John, 51
COLLEAGUES of the binman killed by the lorry he was working on are heartbroken at his death.
John Winton, 51, died early yesterday morning after the incident on a quiet residential street in Limavady, Co Derry.
A Causeway Coast And Glens Borough Council co-worker said: “He was a very well-respected member of the team. He was a gentleman.”
THE binman killed in a tragic industrial accident yesterday was a decorated former soldier and part-time firefighter.
John Winton’s colleagues were among emergency services who attended the scene when he became trapped under the vehicle in Limavady, Co Derry, at around 7.30am.
But the 51-year-old former sergeant major could not be saved.
Chief Northern Ireland Fire And Rescue Officer Gary Thompson said the dad of two had been a colleague for two years.
He added: “John was a dedicated firefighter serving his home town with distinction and he was extremely popular amongst his colleagues.
“His colleagues from Limavady Fire Station and in Dungiven and Crescent Link attended the incident on Mount Eden, Limavady at 7.36am. His death will be felt across the entire NIFRS family.
“I extend our sincere sympathies and condolences to John’s family, his mother Margaret and his children Lisa and Gavin, at this difficult time.”
SDLP councillor John Deighan said: “The guys are heartbroken down there. It could have been any of them and they are struggling to deal with it.
“It’s very sad someone going to their work doesn’t come home. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
“The community is shocked, numb and totally saddened by this tragedy. Loss is never easy, but in circumstances such as this in the lead up to Christmas it is particularly difficult. It is a difficult time for everyone.”
One of John’s colleagues, who asked not to be named, added: “He has been working with us for three or four months.
“I wasn’t working alongside him yesterday, but I have in the past.
“He was a very well respected member of the team. He was a gentleman and well thought of by everybody.”
Mr Winton was collecting blue bin waste for Causeway Coast And Glens Borough Council when he was killed.
Mayor Brenda Chivers said: “It is with deep sadness we learned this morning of the death of a colleague. Our thoughts and prayers are with John’s family and friends and we offer them our heartfelt sympathies at this time.”
An investigation into the circumstances of the incident is ongoing.
Police have appealed for any witnesses to come forward.
Insp Siobhan Watt said: “John Winton died as a result of injuries sustained in a collision with the refuse collection vehicle he was working on.
“An investigation is underway to establish the full circumstances of the incident and police have appealed to any witnesses to contact them at the Collision Investigation Unit on 101, quoting reference number 195 of 06/11/18.”
The Health and Safety Executive will also investigates the tragedy.