Apprentice, 18, crushed to death after employer 'utterly failed' her, court hears

An 18-year-old apprentice carpenter was crushed to death while working alone on a property renovation, a court has heard, in a case that has laid bare the catastrophic consequences of negligent management and a failure to uphold basic safety standards.

Chloe Bidwell, from Trearddur Bay, Anglesey, was labouring alone at a residential property in Bangor when a pile of loose wooden boards, each weighing up to 30kg, collapsed on top of her. Her body was not discovered until she failed to return home that evening and stopped responding to text messages.

The tragedy, which occurred on 20 December 2023, has now led to a £50,000 fine for the property management company, Varcity Living Limited,