INVESTIGATIONS ARE under way by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and the Garda after a young man died in an underground chamber at a grain store in Co Louth yesterday morning.
The accident took place at the Knockbridge branch of Drummonds Ltd, the largest purchaser of grain in the Dublin, Louth and Meath region.
Terry Brennan (19), Knockcor, Knockbridge, died after becoming trapped in an underground chamber adjacent to a grain silo. A second man, who was also in the chamber, is in a critical condition in hospital.
Assistant chief fire officer John Cummins said two units of Dundalk Fire Brigade were called to the store just before 9.30am yesterday.
Four fire officers wearing breathing apparatus entered the underground chamber, where the air was not breathable, and recovered two men, Mr Cummins said.
The first man was pronounced dead at the scene while the second man, who was unconscious, was taken to Louth County Hospital.
A third man was also taken to hospital suffering from shock.
Mr Brennan had been working at the grain store for the busy harvesting season. The two other men had been with the company considerably longer.
A spokeswoman for the HSE said last night one of the men was in a critical condition, the other was comfortable.
Dermot Rowan, managing director of Drummonds, last night extended the company’s sincerest sympathies to the Brennan family on their loss and also prayed for the full recovery of the two other men.
He said the company was co- operating fully with the investigations being carried out by the HSA and the Garda.
The death comes as a blow to the company which earlier this year was saved from closure and the loss of 44 jobs after it was sold by Greencore to Liffey Mills and Freshgrass Investments.