TRIBUTE has been paid to an engineer who died after falling down a lift shaft in Warwick.
James Merritt was believed to have been working on the lift at the town’s Telent Technology Park on Haywood Road when he fell on October 12. The 39 year-old is survived by his wife and two children.
Mr Merritt was employed as an engineer surveyor with Zurich Engineering, a role which saw him carry out examinations of lifting equipment and machinery at sites across the West Midlands.
In 2014 he was named the winner of the British Engineering Service’s Engineer Surveyor of the Year award due to his ‘conscientious approach to health and safety’.
At the time he said he loved his job and winning the award was the highlight of his career.
A spokesman for Zurich told the Observer: “It is with great sadness that we learned of the death of our colleague James Merritt.
“A valued friend and member of his team, James is survived by his wife and two children. Our thoughts, condolences and support go out to the Merritt family and friends at this difficult time.”
When Mr Merritt won the surveyor award he was described by the British Engineering Service as a ‘relatively young engineer surveyor who has already accomplished much in his career.’
Employers also said he was ‘an individual who clearly exceeds the expected role of an engineer surveyor and goes out of his way to help others succeed’.
The incident at Telent has been referred to the Health and Safety Executive An inquest is not expected to take place until late next year.
