17/08/2005

Worker killed in Channel Tunnel Link fire

A man was killed and a second seriously injured when a fire broke out in a tunnel under construction in Kent.

The blaze started in a maintenance locomotive being used in the Thames Tunnel which will form part of the new high-speed Channel Tunnel rail link.

Around 20 fire appliances were called to the scene, which was almost a mile into the tunnel near to Swanscombe, at around 7.15pm last night.

Kent police confirmed that fire fighters with breathing equipment had located one man in a train which had been used by construction workers.

While the scene was reported to have been evacuated quickly a second man with severe burns had been taken to a local hospital and then to a specialist burns unit at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford.

An inquiry will be carried out into the incident when the scene is declared safe for a detailed examination by accident investigators.

It is not thought that the blaze was suspicious.

(SP)

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