Guernsey sewage project: Digger falls into undersea trench

Further attempts to recover the digger are due to be made on Tuesday

A digger overturned and fell into an undersea trench during the replacement of Guernsey's sewage pipes.

The excavator was about 300ft (100m) from the foreshore when it fell into the trench, excavated for the outfall pipes, just after 08:00 BST.

The driver was unharmed and made his own way to shore, a Guernsey Water spokesman said. Divers on support vessels had been on hand.

The cause of the incident is not yet known.

The Health and Safety Executive and Environmental Health have been notified.

The digger will be covered by another high tide after its recovery was abandoned

Attempts to recover the digger around low water, which was at 16:40 BST, resulted in it being turned upright but it could not be moved.

The equipment will remain there overnight and will be covered by another high tide.

Guernsey Water said contractor Van Oord would make further attempts to recover the machine on Tuesday.

The spokesman said the loss of the excavator, owned by subcontractor Schneider, would not delay the day's schedule.

The £19.9m project involves the replacement of both the long sea outfall - the main disposal route for the island's wastewater - and the short sea outfall, which is used if the long sea outfall is at full capacity and the storage tanks are full.

The work to lay the new pipes began in May and is due to be completed by the end of the year

Excavators have been working both onshore and offshore to create a trench for the pipes