Two construction firms have been fined a combined total of over £1.1 million following the death of Gheorghita Arsene, a 33-year-old Romanian labourer, who was buried alive when a 10ft trench collapsed on him. The incident occurred on June 24, 2020, at a care home construction site in Banstead, Surrey.
Arsene was excavating the trench by hand with a pick and shovel when the unsecured walls gave way, burying him under tonnes of soil. Colleagues attempted a desperate rescue, digging with their bare hands, and emergency services were called to the scene. However, paramedics were unable to revive Arsene due to the weight of the soil and difficulties in extraction. He was pronounced dead at 2:44 p.m., approximately one hour after the collapse.
The court heard that the tragedy was