Stephen Naysmith
A pensioner security guard who died in freezing conditions at the site of
Afton Windfarm near New Cumnock has been named as Ronnie Alexander, 74.
One of his two daughters, Tracey Fraser, 48, said he had been trapped in
snow for four and half hours and had died from severe hypothermia.
He was guarding the remote site, which is under construction, with a
colleague who has not been identified.
Ms Fraser, who lives in Kilmarnock, praised police and rescue services who
rescued her father for their efforts, despite the fact that hospital staff
were unable to save him. However she revealed that he had been stuck in a
snowdrift in blizzard conditions through the night on Sunday. Although
emergency services were alerted to the men’s need for help at 8.50pm they
were not found until 1.30am.
“It’s very raw just now, we can’t get over it,” she added. “It’s just so
tragic. Hours and hours he’s been lying in the snow.”
He continued to work into his seventies because he was in good health and
remained active, she said. “He was such a lovely helpful, fit and healthy
man.”
Police Scotland, the Health and Safety Executive and the wind farm’s owners
are all investigating what happened at the site, which appears to have lost
all heat and lighting after the storm caused a power cut. Mr Fraser’s
employers CSM Facilities said their thoughts were with Mr Alexander’s wife
and family, and they were cooperating fully with the investigations.
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