Hinstock warehouse collapse: Firm's vow after worker survives being buried under tonnes of shelving and cheese
Bosses of a transport firm have vowed to move on after one of its workers survived being buried alive by tonnes of shelving storing giant blocks of cheese.
Officials at Edwards Transport in Hinstock have praised their staff for pulling together after emergency crews spent nine hours reaching Tomasz Wiszniewski.
A formal investigation has got under way to find the cause of Friday's accident.
The Health and Safety Executive(HSE), whose inspectors have visited site, said it will be investigating the cause of the collapse of the warehouse, which remained cordoned off yesterday.
Debbie Belcher, who is sister to company owner Mark Edwards, said: "As a family we are very proud of all the staff who all pulled together and came good. We have had messages of support from people and our customers have been helping out.
"What can I say about the emergency services? They were amazing and I could have kissed them all.
"We contacted Tomasz through a Facebook message and he is absolutely fine.
"It is the best outcome we could have hoped for and we will get through this."
Mrs Belcher said the clean-up operation would be huge and that it was too early to say when business at the firm would return to normal.
Jason Green, a spokesman for HSE, said: "HSE inspectors are on site and will be investigating the cause of the incident."
Mr Wiszniewski, who was in a fork lift truck at the time of the accident, miraculously escaped with just minor injuries following the collapse inside the warehouse. Believed to be in his mid-30s, he has worked for the company for about two years.
"A drone was brought in as fire crews cut through the roof and side to gain access to the property to try and find Mr Wiszniewski. Search and rescue specialists climbed into the warehouse and called for silence in the hope of hearing him. Thirteen fire crews were called to the warehouse, which stocked 20kg blocks of cheese.
The fire service said the collapse started with racking inside the 60 metre by 20 metre structure.
It is believed the collapse set off a chain reaction, like a giant set of dominoes toppling over.
Although the building itself has remained standing, the collapse left the walls of the structure bowing. Staff comforted each other following the drama and one needed treatment for shock.
Witnesses said the sound of the collapse sounded like a "sonic boom".
