A young woman who was left with horrific injuries after being almost crushed to death by a 21-tonne excavator has recalled the moment her family were told to say goodbye.
Shannon Brasier, then 20, was working at her "dream job" with Ace Demolition Services Ltd in July 2020 to demolish an old college in Southend, Essex.
While she was installing a fuel pump into the 21-tonne excavator it swung round, crushing her head between the machine and a fuel tank.
She was airlifted to the Royal London Hospital and spent weeks in an induced coma.
Shannon broke bones in her face, fractured a neck bone, suffers facial paralysis from nerve damage and was covered in cuts down to her shoulders.
At the time she was the main breadwinner for her household and had been supporting her mum and siblings by paying bills since she was 15.
Shannon, now 22, made a miraculous recovery but is still unable to work as she continues with corrective surgeries and rehabilitation.
She has since spoken out about the anger she feels that the demolition company can "get away with" the incident.
Shannon, from Dagenham in East London, said: "How did I fight for my life and the company only get a £20,000 fine and 12 months community service?
"My whole family was told to come to say goodbye to me at the Royal London Hospital and John Gilligan [the director who was supervising on the day] only got a slap on the wrist.
"It was a kick in the teeth, but no matter how I feel it's not going change the outcome, the judge has decided. I'm just going to keep moving on with my recovery."
Ace Demolition was last week fined £20,000 and almost £10,000 in court costs after the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company in breach of Health and Safety laws.
The supervisor on the day John Gilligan has been ordered to do 250 hours of unpaid work after the case was brought against him and the company by HSE on November 24 at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court.
The company and Gilligan admitted breaching Section 2(1) and 37(1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.
HSE inspector David Tonge said: "This incident could have so easily been avoided.
"While there were a number of shortfalls, this incident ultimately occurred due a failure to keep the workers away from the excavator.
"Duty holders must ensure that individuals are segregated from vehicles and construction machinery."
A police investigation was launched into the incident and one man was arrested.
Shannon said: "I have a mix of emotions. I'm upset and angry. What do you expect from something that happened to a 20-year-old? I had my dream job, I was moving up quickly, and then it just all crumbled underneath me.
"I don't remember much about the incident as I have 48-hour memory loss around the event. I remember using a petrol grinder and then waking up in hospital.
"If they had followed simple health and safety rules and regulations I wouldn't be sitting here."
Shannon is in the process of suing the company for damages, though she says she has struggled to get witnesses to testify.
She said: "The lies that have been told are laughable. That's another thing I've had to come to terms with, that in the eyes of the law, the truth won't ever be told."
Shannon is still waiting on surgery to correct her facial paralysis which will need a six-month recovery time.
She is also awaiting tests to see if she can return to work in the industry she loves: "I don't know anything better and I'm not willing to learn a new trade. I loved my job."
An Ace Demolition Services Ltd statement read: "Ace Demolition Services Ltd and Mr John Gilligan accept they were found guilty of breaching Section 2 (1) and 37 (1) of the Health and Safety at work Act 1974 and received a fine of £20,000. In addition Mr John Gilligan was ordered to attend 250 hours of unpaid work by Chelmsford Magistrates Court on the 24th of November 2022.
"The Magistrate acknowledged The Company had no previous Health and Safety issues during its long trading history. It was also outlined The Company has made significant improvements to health, safety, and training, which the Magistrate acknowledged, and The Company consider the wellbeing and safety of their employees to be paramount.
"Ace Demolition Services Ltd fully cooperated with the Health and Safety Executive during the investigation with integrity, honesty and with an openness to learn lessons from this very regrettable incident.
"Ace Demolition Services Ltd are a small family business and we were all shocked and devasted by the accident. We sincerely regret the events that lead to Ms Braiser’s injury, and The Company want to reiterate that we continue to wish the very best recovery for Ms Brasier.
"Due to an ongoing civil claim is it not appropriate to comment further at this stage."
