Fireman Roderick Nicolson died while saving two men trapped in a grain silo on Monday the 4th of December 1995.

 

DEADLY: Hole cut by pals could have made things worse

Rescue attempt may

have killed silo hero

By NICK BRITTEN 

Hero fireman Roderick Nicolson may have died as a rescue attempt by his mates went tragically wrong.
They cut a hole in the bottom of a huge silo in a bid to release the chemical quicksand which was suffocating him.
But fire chiefs last night admitted it could have increased the suction which dragged Roderick, 43, to his death.
The Ullapool born man died in Perth
Harbour’s hell-hole silo on Monday, after saving two men.
Tayside Firemaster Derek Marr admitted he may have been sucked down quicker because of the hole, but added:
“We had to make a decision to get him out as fast as possible.
“It was decided a hole to drain the rest of the ash out would have assisted this.”

Narrow

It is not known if he wore a harness, passed to him through a narrow gap.
The brigade will now review all their safety procedures.
Roderick, known as Big Nic, lived in
Perth with wife Yvonne and daughter Ami, nine.
Yvonne said she was “devastated”, as were his colleagues who witnessed the tragic event.
She added: “I hope one day the fact that he helped to save two people is a source of comfort to us. But he is missed, he is missed very much.”

Courage

Firemaster Marr added: “I think many of us will reflect on the courage and bravery shown and the price he has so unselfishly paid.”
A major inquiry was under way yesterday at the site, owned by chemical company Daltrade.
A spokesman said: “All the staff are devastated and our sympathies must go to family of the fireman.”
Last night one of men Roderick saved, Alistair Lockhart, from Aberuthven, was stable at Perth Royal Infirmary.
Paul Martin, of, Perth, released on Monday night, was too upset to discuss the tragedy. 

Countdown to disaster 

1:             Two workmen trapped in ‘quicksand’ chemical silo. 

2:             Emergency crews try to free men by discharging chemical from bottom of silo. 

3:             Approx. 11am: Emergency crewman Roderick Nicolson, who has removed his lifeline to fit through 18” hatch, hands workmen lifeline. Meanwhile, fire crew cut hole in base of silo to speed up chemical discharge. Possibly increasing suction effect. 

4:             Approx 11.25am: Workmen pulled to safety as Nicolson is sucked down into discharging chemicals.

5:             Approx 1pm: Firemen enter silo to free Nicolson, but it’s too late, Nicolson has been trapped for 2 hours. 

PHOTO & DRAWINGS of silo were also in the article..
(Daily Record Wednesday 6th December 1995.) 

GEORGE MEDAL 

On Tuesday 24 February 1998, Mrs Yvonne Nicolson accompanied by her daughter Amy, and members of their immediate family were received by the Queen in private at Buckingham Palace. Mrs Nicolson received the George Medal which was posthumously bestowed on her husband, Firefighter Roderick Nicolson, who died saving the lives of two workmen trapped within a chemical silo.
(Tayside Fire Brigade Firemaster’s Annual Report 1997-98, Page 32.)

 

TAYSIDE MEMORIAL PAGE