Bolton firm fined after Bradley Lowery's father badly burned at work

Carl Lowery needed a skin graft for his injuries

The father of a football mascot whose plight with cancer captured the public's hearts has been left unable to work after a serious burns injury.

Bradley Lowery's father Carl, 41, was badly injured while working on a new apartment block in Salford, when an electric flash blew him backwards.

He was left with burns to his arms and face and needed a skin graft following the incident in May 2020.

Aberla M&E Limited was fined £40,000 for breaching health and safety rules.

Mr Lowery's son Bradley was a huge fan of Sunderland AFC and became a mascot for the Wearside club and for England. He died from a rare form of cancer in July 2017.

The family later set up the Bradley Lowery Foundation which helps the families of sick children.

Bradley Lowery was a huge Sunderland fan and became a mascot for the club

Mr Lowery was working with a colleague at SRE Cabling and Jointing Limited, with the company sub-contracted by Aberla M&E Limited, to carry out cabling and jointing works on new apartments on Hulme Street when he was injured.

In his victim personal statement, Mr Lowery said: "Even when Bradley was poorly I worked.

"I've not been able to work since the accident, mentally or physically.

"My left hand is my dominant hand and after the accident I had no grip, I had to try and learn how to use my non-dominant hand."

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation was launched, which led to Aberla M&E Limited being prosecuted.

The firm, from Bolton in Greater Manchester, admitted to breaching health and safety regulations.

The company was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £20,000 in costs at Manchester Magistrates' Court on 14 March.

HSE inspector Lisa Bailey said: "This incident has had life-changing consequences for Carl and his family.

"It could have been avoided if the company had actively monitored and managed procedures, to identify risks and prevent incidents.

"Working with electricity is a high-risk activity and safety must be a priority.

"Proper planning to ensure that risks are eliminated at system design stage is essential."

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