An airline catering firm has been fined more than £2.4million for causing the death of a former Gurkha who was crushed by a forklift truck.
Kumar Limbu, 60, suffered catastrophic injuries and died at the scene on April 11 2023 when he was struck from behind by the vehicle as he loaded it with goods.
DO & CO Event and Airline Catering Limited has now been prosecuted for serious health and safety breaches after Hounslow Council’s Commercial Health and Safety Team undertook legal action.
Mr Limbu had been working for the company through an employment agency at a depot where cabin meals are prepared and packed for passenger planes that operate out of nearby Heathrow Airport.
The firm pleaded guilty to two health and safety offences at the court in April before being sentenced last month.
In addition to a fine of £2.45 million, the firm was also ordered to pay £47,091 in legal costs after pleading guilty to two offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard the driver’s vision was obstructed by the load his truck was carrying.
At the time of the incident, the court heard there were no clear markings showing pedestrian and vehicle zones, no physical barriers between these zones, and no speed limit signs or site rules displayed at the entrance.
Kumar Limbu in Gurkha uniform aged 29 at Colchester barracks. He served in the British Army for 15 years, before settling in the UK with his wife and two children in 2007
Mr Limbu’s daughter, Smriti Limbu, 32, said: ‘Our beloved head of family Kumar Limbu had gone to do his work on a normal day but never came back home due to his employer’s negligence’
Staff were also not required to comply with any safety demarcations between pedestrian and vehicle areas.
Mr Limbu’s daughter, Smriti Limbu, 32, said: ‘Our beloved head of family Kumar Limbu had gone to do his work on a normal day but never came back home due to his employer’s negligence.
‘This has had a severe effect on us as a family – we lost a caring husband, lovely Dad and our charm of family.
‘With the efforts of Hounslow’s health and safety investigation, we feel very pleased to hear the outcome and we feel like justice has been served.
“We, as a family, had believed from the beginning that there were so many health and safety breaches from his work which resulted in such a tragic incident that took our lovely Dad away from us.
‘My mum still hasn’t come out of this trauma, and she thinks my dad has gone to work, and will return. Her eyes are full of tears, and she is waiting for her husband. This news of justice has given her strength and belief in our system.’
A former member of the Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, Kumar had served in the British Army for 15 years, before settling in the UK with his wife and two children in 2007.
A trained lorry driver, he had worked at the airline catering firm for several years before the fatal accident.
Kumar Limbu with his family – right to left: son Songgom Limbu, daughter-in-law Rustina Maharjan, Kumar Limbu, daughter Smriti Limbu, son-in-law Tejendra Singh, seated wife Sadra Rai
Speaking to MailOnline after his death, his widow Sarda Rai, 55, said: ‘I’m heartbroken. I have lost the love of my life. We have spent the past 34 years together and now he is gone.
‘When he went off to work, my husband said “good-bye, see you later”, but he never came home. I still expect him to walk through the door. But that’s never going to happen.
‘Every day I am dying inside with grief.’
Councillor Raghwinder Siddhu, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Customer and Experience and Enforcement at Hounslow Council, said: ‘This sad case highlights the devastating consequences of inadequate workplace safety measures and underscores the importance of robust health and safety procedures in high-risk environments.
‘I’d like to pay tribute to the hard work and dedication of our team who have worked diligently to deliver this prosecution over many months.
‘This is vital work which holds unsafe workplaces to account and will help safeguard against future tragedies.
‘While I welcome the result of last week’s hearing, it’s important to remember that no fine can bring back a much-loved husband and father and respected colleague and my thoughts remain with the family and friends of Mr Limbu.’
Do & Co has been approached for comment.
