Contractor dies on cliff railway

THE Health and Safety Executive has been carrying out an investigation into the death of an unnamed 79-year-old track maintenance contractor on Torbay’s Babbacombe Cliff Railway.

Devon & Cornwall Police were called to an ‘industrial incident’ at the funicular railway at about 10.10am on September 4. The railway was closed, along with the beauty spot of Oddicombe beach, which it has served since it opened in 1926.

A statement from the railway said: “All of us are devastated by the death of a dearly loved engineer in a tragic accident unrelated to the operation of the railway.

“We are fully cooperating with the HSE and no further comment will be made.”

The inquiry will determine if any breaches under the Health and Safety at Work Act have occurred.

HSE principal inspector Trevor Lowe said: “We will draw upon the evidence gathered so far to determine the cause of this tragic incident.

“During the investigation we will continue to keep in touch with the family of the deceased as we send them our deepest sympathies at this difficult time.”