Personal injury news

Wedding disaster as marquee collapses on guests

A Surrey scaffolding firm has been successfully prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after 150 wedding guests narrowly avoided suffering serious personal injury when a marquee collapsed.

West Berkshire Magistrates' Court heard how scaffolding had been erected at the Newbury site to counteract the sloping lawn that the marquee was to be constructed on.

However, as guests sat down for the wedding breakfast, the scaffolding holding the marquee level collapsed beneath them followed by the marquee flooring. The incident caused the guests to drop four feet to the ground below, along with tables, chairs, cutlery and glasses.

Scaffold poles also fell into the marquee during the incident nearly hitting guests as they landed.

The scaffolding company admitted to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay £7,370 in court costs.

An inspector for HSE described the incident as a terrifying and shocking experience for the newly married couple and their guests, who were lucky not to suffer serious personal injury.

It has not been reported whether or not the wedding couple will pursue a compensation claim against the scaffolding firm.