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.
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.)