Storm Ali claims life of contractor working for NI Water

A man believed to be in his 20s working as a contractor with Northern Ireland Water (NI Water) died during Storm Ali, which battered the country on Wednesday (19 September).

The water company confirmed one man died and another was injured. Both were employees of one of the company’s contractors.

The man who died is thought to have been hit by a tree in County Armagh, according to several media reports.

The incident happened at about lunchtime yesterday at a water pumping station at Slieve Gullion Forest Park.

A Northern Ireland Water spokesperson said: “NI Water is aware of an incident involving employees of one of our contractors.

“Emergency services attended to two individuals. Sadly one of these people died at the scene.

“NI Water is currently working closely with the emergency services, the health and safety executive and Police Service Northern Ireland and will do everything possible to assist.

“Our thoughts are with the families of those involved at this time.”

A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said: “The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a 999 call at 12.15pm on Wednesday 19 September 2018 following reports that a tree had fallen on two males in the area of Drumintee Road, entrance to Slieve Gullion Forest Park, outside Newry.

“NIAS despatched one emergency ambulance crew to the scene. The air ambulance was also tasked to the incident by NIAS.

“Following assessment and treatment at the scene, one patient was transported to the Royal Victoria Hospital.”

Winds of up to 91 miles per hour also claimed the life of a woman in a caravan in County Galway in the Republic of Ireland and another woman was taken to hospital after a tree hit her car on the A49 in Cheshire.

Around 65,000 homes were left without power during the storm.