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The families of three men and a teenager who were killed in an explosion at a water recycling center in Avonmouth paid tribute to them.
Luke Wheaton, 16, of Bradley Stoke, Ray White, 57, of Portishead, Brian Vickery, 63, of Clevedon, and Mike James, 64, of Bath, were killed in the incident at the Wessex Water site on December 3.
Avon and Somerset police said the cordon around the site was removed Tuesday night, although work will continue on the site while the investigation continues.
16-year-old Luke Wheaton (pictured) was one of four people who died at the plant after an explosion that is being investigated by police and health and safety watchdog agencies. Luke’s family paid tribute to him and described him as ‘the most beautiful, loving, happy, talented and perfect son’
Specialized Family Liaison Officers continue to help their families who have shared tribute to their loved ones.
Luke’s family described him as ‘the most beautiful, loving, happy, talented and perfect son’ and said he had ‘everything to look forward to in life’.
Luke knows how much he loves him and everyone will miss him very much. I wish we could bring him back, ‘they said.
Mr. White’s family described him as a ‘wonderful son, brother and father to their two children’ and said that ‘the whole family is struggling to come to terms with Ray’s death’.
Ray White, 57, (left) and Brian Vickery, 63, (right) were killed in the explosion at the water treatment plant last week and their families have now paid tribute to them as the investigation continues.
Father, husband, brother and grandfather Mike James, 64, (pictured) was one of four workers who died in an explosion at a wastewater treatment plant in Avonmouth last Thursday.
Mr. Vickery’s family described how he “lit up everyone’s life with his cheeky and wicked sense of humor.”
In a statement, they added: “ Nothing meant more to him than being close to his loved ones and it’s hard to think about him without making you smile. ”
“We feel blessed to have had him in our lives and we will cherish these memories forever.”
Mr. James’s family said he was a brother, husband, father and grandfather whom they would miss.
Avon and Somerset police previously said the explosion occurred in a silo containing biosolids treated before being recycled to the ground as an organic soil conditioner.
Police said Luke Wheaton, 16, Michael James, 64, Brian Vickery, 63, and Raymond White, 57, were killed in an explosion believed to have been caused by a chemical tank explosion.
Aerial view of damage from a downtown explosion that killed four people Thursday
It is understood that Mr. James was a contractor working on the site, while Mr. Vickery and Mr. White were employees of Wessex Water and Luke, a former student at Bradley Stoke Community School, was an apprentice.
In a statement, the force added that specially trained officers are supporting the families of the victims, while investigators will speak with the person who survived the blast and is now recovering from his injuries at home.
Emergency services were called in to reports of a large explosion involving one of the chemical tanks at the site around 11.20 a.m. M.
Avon and Somerset police declared a major incident and said a cordon at the site is likely to remain in place “for the next several days” while an investigation is under way.
This is being supported by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and a team of chemical and mechanical experts, the force said.
