A gardener died four days after being impaled in the groin by a bamboo cane while working at Darnaway Castle on the Moray Estate in Elgin, Scotland. Norman MacKenzie, 68, fell onto the bamboo while trimming hedges from a step ladder. He initially did not seek treatment but later went to the hospital due to swelling in his genitals.
Mr. MacKenzie was transferred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in September 2024, where his condition deteriorated. While awaiting surgery, he developed blood poisoning and necrotising fasciitis, a serious bacterial infection. Medical staff were unable to save him, and he died on September 21.
A fatal accident inquiry heard that Mr. MacKenzie suffered a "blunt, penetrating and dirty injury." Sheriff David B. Harvie noted that the target time for surgery was not met, attributing this to competing emergencies and classifying it as a system failure. The sheriff also suggested that the use of a different type of ladder might have prevented the accident and that Mr. MacKenzie should not have been working at height given his existing medical conditions.
Moray Estates has since reviewed and formalized its supervision and reporting structure, emphasizing the need for structured oversight regardless of worker experience. The estate has also removed all bamboo canes from its sunken gardens and flower beds.
Grampian Health Board acknowledged that its record-keeping for Morbidity and Mortality meetings was inadequate and has since adopted a system recommended by the Royal College of Surgeons. While the delay in surgery did not cause or contribute to Mr. MacKenzie's death, the board has amended its procedures to ensure that missing surgical target times are recorded as system failures.
Andrew Howard, managing director of Moray Estates, stated that Mr. MacKenzie was a respected colleague of 40 years and that the estate has reinforced its accident reporting procedures. Geraldine Fraser, NHS Grampian's chief officer for acute services, extended condolences and confirmed that system and process improvements have been made regarding meeting records and surgical target times.