A director of the firm where an Oswestry man died after an ammonia leak has told a court he argued long and hard for extra breathing equipment at the site.

Alan Golden, a maintenance engineer at Cold Move, in Oswestry, died aged 54, following the leak at the company depot in Golborne, near Warrington, on September 27, 2005.

On the second day of the inquest at Bolton Coroners’ Court yesterday, jurors heard colleagues also put their safety at risk in a bid to rescue Mr Golden. Jennifer Leeming, coroner, said John Washington, of Golborne, and Philip Walsh, of St Helens, displayed a great deal of courage. The two men, along with John Rowlinson, of Gobowen, have received awards for their actions.

Mr Golden, of Holbache Road, Oswestry, was later brought out of the plant by firefighters, but had already died, the inquest heard.

Mr Washington, a shift supervisor, said he went to the plant room, opened the door and it felt as though he was being “whacked in the face”. The room was completely black.

The premises was evacuated and Mr Golden was the only person missing.

He said he helped Philip Walsh put on breathing apparatus and then held his fleece over his face to open the door. He added: “When Mr Walsh finally came out his breathing apparatus tank had run out.”

Mr Walsh told the court he went as far into the room as he could, and realised he was running out of air. He added there was only one air cylinder for the breathing apparatus at Golborne.

Ex-employee Stuart Johnson, the firm’s business development director at the time, said he had argued for two sets of breathing apparatus, a spare bottle and chemical suits.

The inquest continues.