Hinstock warehouse collapse: Staff to return to site where worker was buried alive

Managers at the firm in Hinstock said they will be offering counselling to workers, including Tomasz Wiszniewski, who was rescued by emergency crews after about nine hours.

The forklift truck driver miraculously escaped unharmed from the warehouse on Friday, following a massive operation involving firefighters and specialist search and rescue teams.

The cause of the accident, which began at about 9.30am near Market Drayton, is not yet known.

Shropshire Council has confirmed this week that it will be taking over the responsibility for the investigation from the Health and Safety Executive, whose inspectors visited the site on Monday.

Debbie Belcher, who is sister to company owner Mark Edwards, said the clean-up operation would be huge.

"We have had some more positive news that we have a lot more access to the site," she said. "Shropshire Council is now working with us and we have got a lot of reports to do.

"We are going in the right direction and we are taking things day-by-day."

Although the building itself 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 was like a "sonic boom".

Mrs Belcher added: "The structural report of the warehouse has come back positive. The building is sound and won't just collapse into a heap.

"Our warehouse staff have not been back in to work yet. We hope workers will be back on site, if not by the end of this week, then hopefully the start of next. We will be organising counselling for our staff if they want it. It is very much a personal thing." As for Tomasz, it depends on how he feels."Mr Wiszniewski who is believed to be in his mid-30s, has worked for the company for about two years.

A drone and search dogs were brought in as fire crews cut through the roof and side to gain access to the property to try and find Mr Wiszniewski.