Memorial service for Corrib tunnel worker
The remains of the German national who died after an accident in the Corrib sub-sea tunnel were repatriated at the weekend
Memorial service for Corrib tunnel worker
Áine Ryan
A MEMORIAL service was held at the Church of Christ the King, Aughoose last night, for the Corrib sub-sea tunnel worker, Lars Wagner, who died in a tragic accident at the site recently. The 26-year-old German national, a mechanical fitter, sustained fatal injuries early on Sunday morning, September 8, when a compressed pipe on the tunnel-boring machine reportedly came free.
He was pronounced dead when his body was brought to the surface shortly after 9am. A single man, Mr Wagner was part of the project’s maintenance support crew for Herrnknecht, the German sub-contractor that built the giant tunnel-boring machine, christened Fionnuala by Shell.
Construction work on the tunnel was suspended after the tragic accident and Shell confirmed it had provided support to staff and contractors who were ‘so deeply shocked and saddened’. The lead Corrib Gas partner also formally expressed its condolences to the family and co-workers of the victim, on behalf of itself, Statoil Exploration (Ireland) and Vermillion Energy Ireland Limited.
The deceased was repatriated to Germany for burial over last weekend. As a mark of respect to Mr Wagner, all activities associated with Erris Enterprise week have been postponed. The second Erris Enterprise week was scheduled to take place last week, through to Saturday, September 13.
Mayo County Council has also written to the family of the deceased worker to express its sympathy.