Binman Dies After Being Hit By Lorry In Limavady

A binman has died after being hit by the lorry he was working on in Limavady.

John Winton, a cleansing operative, lost his life after a traffic collision in the Mount Eden area of the town at around 7.30am on Tuesday 06 November.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service sent two emergency crews to the scene. No one was transported to hospital.

PSNI Inspector Siobhan Watt said: "An investigation is underway to establish the full circumstances of the incident and police have appealed to any witnesses to contact them at the Collision Investigation Unit on 101."

Mr Winton was also a retained firefighter at Limavady Fire Station.

In a statement, Chief Fire and Rescue Officer Gary Thompson offered his condolences.

He said: "Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) is devastated to learn of the death of our colleague firefighter John Winton who died this morning in an off-duty incident.

"I extend our sincere sympathies and condolences to John's family, his mother Margaret and his children Lisa and Gavin, at this difficult time.

"His untimely death at the age of 51 will be greatly felt by all who knew and worked with him. John was a dedicated firefighter serving his home town with distinction and he was extremely popular amongst his colleagues. His death will be felt across the entire NIFRS family."

SDLP councillor John Deighan also issued his sympathies to the family of Mr Winton.

"It is such a tragic accident to happen to someone doing their daily working round," Mr Deighan said.

"No one thinks when they are going out to work in the morning that they won't be coming back."



(JG)