A MAN was crushed to death while trying to recover a bulldozer that had become wedged in slurry.

Representatives from Dredging International UK appeared at Basildon Magistrates’ Court after the company was accused of failing to protect Robert Mayne while he was carrying out work at the London Gateway Port, in Thurrock.

The court heard Mr Mayne and another worker were sent to recover a bulldozer, which had become bogged down in waterlogged ground, at around 4am on April 23, 2011. However, while Mr Mayne was trying to free the bulldozer from the mud, he was crushed to death.

Firefighters were forced to use specialist equipment to recover his body.

The Health and Safety Executive carried out a full investigation after Mr Mayne’s death.

Dredging International UK is accused of failing to have had safe working practices in place at the London Gateway site.

This failing, the prosecution argued, was what led to the death of Mr Mayne, who was working as a sub-contractor at the building site, when the accident happened.

The company’s representatives did not enter a plea to the charge that the company breached its general duty to a person other than an employee.

Magistrates declined jurisdiction on the charges because they were considered so serious.

The case will next be heard at Basildon Crown Court on September 23.