Apprentice Engineer Dies After Fire-Suppression System Releases Toxic Gas on Cornish Trawler
Apprentice engineer Connor Moseley, 20, died when a fire-suppression system unexpectedly discharged toxic aerosol in the engine room of the trawler Resurgam docked at Newlyn harbour.
On 15 November 2019, 20-year-old apprentice engineer Connor Moseley was on the trawler Resurgam in Newlyn harbour, Cornwall, when a newly installed fire-suppression system suddenly discharged a hot aerosol into the confined engine room. The system, supplied by Ocean Engineering (Fire) Ltd, generated gases exceeding 75 °C and carbon monoxide, creating a near-zero visibility environment with only a single entry point. While three co-workers managed to exit, Moseley inhaled the toxic plume and collapsed; Cornwall Fire and Rescue rescued him, but he died on scene.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive identified multiple safety breaches, including the absence of a permit-to-work system, no evacuation plan, and inadequate coordination among contractors. At Truro Crown Court, W. Stevenson & Sons Limited was ordered to pay a £100,000 fine and £27,906 costs. Moseley’s mother, Tracy Moseley, expressed profound grief, recalling her son’s love of helping on his father’s boat.
Why it matters
The tragedy underscores the lethal consequences of poor safety management on small fishing vessels and the need for stricter maritime health-and-safety enforcement.
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