LAST UPDATE | 19 Apr 2023

A MAN WHO was seriously burned after a fire at a medical devices manufacturer in Co Cork yesterday is currently on life support, a family member has said.

Emergency services were made aware of a fire at the Anngrove building in the IDA industrial estate in Carrigtwohill at lunchtime yesterday and a man in his 40s was rushed to Cork University Hospital.

The Stryker facility was evacuated and a second man was also brought to hospital.

Both men are believed to have been working on the building’s roof when the incident took place.

Speaking on the Neil Prendeville Show on Cork’s RedFM, a family member said that the injured man had suffered “massive burns”.

“I am writing with a heavy heart as our family received the worst news, yesterday afternoon, in connection with the accident at the Stryker Plant at lunchtime,” the family member said in a statement read out on air.

“A close family member was the chap who was very seriously injured during the incident and he has sustained massive burns.”

“He is a kind, mild mannered family man, 41 years old, with a loving wife, a baby, a young child and a stepson – who are his world. He was living the perfect life until 1 o’clock, yesterday.”

The statement continued: “I would like to ask the good people of Cork and beyond, for their heartfelt prayers.”

“His devoted parents, wife and siblings are devastated and keeping vigil at the hospital.”

“He was in surgery until late last night and is on life support. Our extended family are heartbroken and feel helpless at this shocking turn of events.”

Stryker operates six facilities in Cork, employing over 4,000 people.

The Health and Saftety Authority have launched an investigation into the incident.

A spokesperson for Stryker told The Journal:

“The health and safety of our people is and always will be our main concern.”

“Our thoughts are with the two people injured at our Anngrove facility yesterday and we are in communication with the families.”

“Operations at Anngrove resumed this morning following an inspection by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). Our Employee Assistance Programme is available to all employees and we have personnel onsite to support them. 

“We continue to work closely with the HSA as they carry out their investigations into the incident.”

Sinn Féin TD for Cork East, Pat Buckley, told the Neil Prendeville Show that he will be in contact with the HSA, adding that he will also raise the matter in the Dáil tomorrow.

Speaking this morning, Buckley said: “I do understand there’s an investigation going on and I welcome that.”

Trade union SIPTU has lent their sympathies to the two workers who were injured at the Stryker plant and wished them a speedy and full recovery. 

SIPTU organiser Allen Dillon said that their members had previously raised health and safety concerns.

Dillon added: “We have been seeking engagement with management on these matters since 2019.

“We want to take a collaborative approach in order to ensure the safest possible environment for all workers on the Cork sites.”

SIPTU’s sector organiser Neil McGowan said the trade union has contacted Stryker management “seeking an urgent meeting to discuss the safety concerns of workers on the three Stryker sites in Carrigtwohill”.

McGowan said he wanted to “ensure that the best safety systems possible are in place across the sites”.

He added that SIPTU will “await the outcome of an investigation by the Health and Safety Authority before we comment further on the incident”.