Bristol Man Fell From Gantry

A Concorde exhibition manager has told the inquest into the death of a pensioner who slipped and fell to his death that he "was not aware" he was responsible for health and safety despite it being in his job description.

Horace Livall, from Bristol, fell from a gantry as he was about to take a photograph during a tour of the aircraft in September 2004.

The former milkman, 71, hit the concrete at Filton Airport and sustained brain and chest injuries. He died later in hospital.

The inquest jury at Kings Weston House, Bristol, has already heard the walkway platform could not be fixed to the aircraft, leaving a gap of 2.6ft between the gantry and the fuselage.

Instead of a metal bridge, there was a plywood platform placed between the gantry and the plane, with webbing straps on one side, the inquest heard.

The visitor centre was managed by charity Bristol Aero Collection (BAC), in conjunction with Airbus UK.

Ed Chambers, BAC site manager, denied he was negligent as he spoke before the inquest.

Reading from Mr Chambers' job description, Coroner Brian Whitehouse told the jury "ensuring health and safety requirements were met" was included in it.

But Mr Chambers said he believed all health and safety requirements were Airbus UK's responsibility, as the plane was on its land.

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David Urpeth from law firm Irwin Mitchell said: "Whilst the inquest into this tragic death is ongoing, it would be wrong to comment on the specific circumstances.

"It is of course fair to state that those permitting members of the public to enter their land have a duty to ensure they are safe.

"I regularly act for members of the public in claims for compensation, where they have been injured or killed in circumstances where owners, occupiers of land and, or premises have failed to take sufficient care for their health and safety."