Pest Control Workers Found Dead in Chicken Factory: Cause of Death Revealed as Suffocation

TWO pest control workers found dead with frozen hands and feet suffocated after unknowingly walking into a deadly cloud of gas, a court has heard.

Their heartbroken families’ lives “changed forever” after the men were in what prosecutors described as a “cavalier” safety failure.

Cops at the scene outside Banham Poultry in Attleborough, NorfolkCredit: SWNS The court heard the men had entered the one-man-wide passage as part of routine pest control workCredit: SWNS Neil Moon was working for Banham Poultry as a pest control subcontractors when he lost his lifeCredit: Norfolk Police Jonathan Collins was also working for Banham Poultry as pest control subcontractor when he lost his lifeCredit: SWNS

Neil Moon, 49, and Jonathan “Jon” Collins, 34, were discovered in the early hours after concerned relatives raised the alarm when they failed to return home.

Norwich Crown Court heard the pair died from asphyxiation after nitrogen gas built up in a walkway at the side of the chicken factory.

The court heard the men had entered the one-man-wide passage as part of routine work.

The men had no warning they were stepping into a lethal environment on the tragic day in October 2018.

Prosecutor Craig Hassall KC said: “Ultimately, they were killed by a colourless, odourless gas.

“When they walked into the passageway they were given no warning of the risks.”

Their bodies were later found at around 1am, lying in the narrow corridor between the factory and nearby railway tracks.

Evidence showed their hands and faces were frozen, with frost visible on the ground.

Earlier CCTV footage played to the court showed the men arriving at the site at around 8.30am.

They were last seen alive at 11.40am.

When they did not return home that evening, worried loved ones raised the alarm that triggered a search that led to the grim discovery hours later.

The hearing was told the deadly gas leak was caused by a dislodged duct pipe connected to a chilling system used to process chickens.

Mr Hassall told the court: “When these men entered the passageway ducting had become detached, pumping concentrated nitrogen into a narrow space.”

The court heard concerns had previously been raised about mist drifting across nearby railway platforms.

This prompted a series of changes to the system in the months before.

But Mr Hassall said the work was not carried out safely, describing the companies’ actions as “cavalier” and warning they had failed to protect workers on site.

Banham Poultry Limited and Air Products plc have both admitted and safety offences on the basis that the breaches caused the deaths.

At an earlier coroner’s review, it had been confirmed the men died from a build-up of nitrogen.

Though a full picture of how the tragedy unfolded only emerged during this week’s sentencing hearing.

In emotional statements read to the court, families laid bare their devastation.

Jon’s wife Gillian said: “My life stopped but I had to find the strength to carry on for our son.”

She added: “I still don’t know why it has taken these companies seven a half years to accept responsibility for causing these deaths.

“The careless and reckless actions of those responsible have had catastrophic consequences.”

Their daughter Dakota described him as an “amazing father”.

She added: “My dad was a kind and caring man just doing his job. They were robbed of their lives.”

Neil’s fiancée Sara Dutton said he had been a “strong and devoted family man” who doted on his three young children.

“My life and the lives of my children changed forever,” she said.

“Our grief has not diminished over time. I have had seven years just treading water. Not really living, just waiting for the truth.”

The sentencing hearing is due to conclude after two days.

Cops at the scene following the tragedyCredit: SWNS Banham Poultry entered administration in 2018 and no longer operates the factoryCredit: PA