Electrician dies in Ark Royal accident
AN electrician has died after an accident on board the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal in Portsmouth naval base.
Forty-six-year-old Gary Lutley, of Crookham, near Fleet, Hampshire, was working with a colleague and a member of the Royal Navy when the alarm was raised at 11am yesterday.
The three had been carrying out routine maintenance in the galley area of the Royal Navy's flagship.
A medic on board the ship was first to the scene and gave Mr Lutley oxygen until an ambulance arrived alongside at South Railway Jetty.
He died later in Queen Alexandra Hospital. A post-mortem examination was expected to be carried out today.
Naval base spokesman Simon Smith said it was unclear exactly what caused Mr Lutley's death. The Health and Safety Executive has been informed and will be carrying out an inquiry.
Mr Lutley worked for Windsor-based Hobart UK, one of the world's largest suppliers of heavy industrial catering equipment.
Sales director Steve Martin said it was a 'sad day' and described Mr Lutley as a family man who was one of the company's most knowledgeable technicians. He had been with the company for 18 years.
The tragedy happened as Ark Royal's sister ship HMS Illustrious was returning from exercise off the USA.
In March this year Ark Royal returned to the Royal Navy Fleet after a two-year refurbishment in Scotland costing 18m.
In May she once again became the Fleet Flagship, reclaiming the title from Illustrious.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 15 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
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Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
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