A DOCK company must pay out almost £30,000 after a worker sustained life-changing injuries.

Andrew Gotts’ leg was crushed leaving him with multiple fractures and destruction of soft tissue when an operation to unload a cargo container at Harwich Port went wrong.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard Mr Gotts, 26, of Felixstowe, Suffolk, has needed needed extensive reconstruction surgery and it is not yet known when or if he will be fit for work.

The incident, on 4 October 2012, was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which prosecuted Harwich Dock Company for serious safety breaches.

Harwich Dock Company Ltd, of Kings Quay Street, Harwich, pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £14,761 costs.

See Monday's Gazette