Gas worker had 'head in his hands' after explosion

A colleague of the gas workers on trial over an explosion that killed 10 people said there was a sense of panic after the incident.

Louis Savage, an operations service lead for Island Energy, had worked to restore gas to nearby properties after supplies were accidentally disconnected during work the day before the Haut du Mont flats explosion took place on 10 December 2022.

Speaking about the aftermath, Savage told Jersey's Royal Court he found Neil Armstrong sitting in his car with his "head in his hands".

Gas workers Armstrong, 58, John Wright, 60, and Lee Ward, 59, deny 10 counts of gross negligence manslaughter and Island Energy has also pleaded not guilty in a combined health and safety case.

The residents who died were Peter Bowler, 72, Billy Marsden, 62, Derek Ellis, 61, Sylvia Ellis, 73, Ken Ralph, 72, Jane Ralph, 71, Romeu De Almeida, 67, Louise De Almeida, 64, Raymond Brown, 71, and Kathy McGinness, 73.

Savage told the court he arrived at the explosion site at some point between 04:30 and 04:45 to find emergency services and firefighters tackling the flames.

He said after finding Armstrong sitting in his car looking "distressed", Armstrong went to say something to him.

"I said don't tell me, go in the office and tell them," Savage said.

When asked by the prosecution why he stopped Armstrong from talking, Savage said: "Because I'm not important enough to be told if it's something to do with the incident.

"It was distress after where he'd been."

Savage added later on that day he saw Armstrong sitting inside a shipping container at the company's office looking "stressed, quiet and shivering".

The trial continues.

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