Two individuals have been taken into custody after the death of a 17-year-old boy in what is described as a ‘workplace accident’ at an industrial estate in Bury, Greater Manchester. Emergency services, including fire crews and paramedics, responded to the incident on Tile Street shortly after 10 am yesterday.
A 41-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving offenses and gross negligence manslaughter, while a 36-year-old man has also been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. Law enforcement officers and representatives from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) remained at the scene on Thursday, conducting investigations. Numerous police cars were observed on private land at the end of Tile Street, past a gated area.
Crime scene investigators were seen collecting photo evidence during lunchtime. Throughout the afternoon, people were observed entering and leaving the scene, while the broader industrial estate remained active with open businesses. A collaborative inquiry is now in progress, led by Greater Manchester Police and the HSE, aiming to determine the complete circumstances surrounding the teenager’s tragic death.
Eyewitnesses noted a significant police presence and the presence of paramedics. One worker mentioned that the incident was described to them as an ‘accident,’ while others in the vicinity stated they were informed that someone had been ‘hit on the head.’
An employee at a nearby scrapyard reported, ‘An ambulance tried coming into the yard. They said apparently somebody had been hurt. Loads of police came, and we took them down there.’
A GMP spokesperson stated, ‘At around 10:10 am today, officers were called to reports of concerns for welfare at a business premises on Tile Street, Bury. It was established that a 17-year-old boy was involved in a workplace accident, and despite the best efforts of emergency services, he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.’ The spokesperson added, ‘A 41-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of driving offenses and gross negligence manslaughter, and a 36-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. A joint investigation between GMP Bury CID and the Health and Safety Executive has been launched to make inquiries into the circumstances that led to the boy’s death. Enquiries are ongoing at this stage.’
The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) confirmed that it was dispatched to the scene at 10:04 am. HSE inspector Lisa Bailey stated, ‘We are aware of an incident and currently making enquiries alongside GMP.’
