Accident kills oil refinery worker

A man has been killed in an accident in an oil refinery near Southampton, it has been revealed.

The contractor died during an incident at 10:00 BST yesterday (July 21st) at the Esso oil refinery in Fawley, the largest in the UK.

Emergency services attended the scene after the man became trapped under pipes at the site, it has been reported, and later died in hospital.

It is thought the contractor may have been a rigger from Wales.

 Police are investigating the incident along with Health and Safety Executive, while the owner of the oil refinery Exxonmobil has launched an internal inquiry.

"Our key priority continues to be the safety and well-being of our people and the safe operation of the site. Consequently, non-essential work in the area of Fawley where the incident happened has been suspended until further notice," said a spokesperson from Exxonmobil.

He added that everyone at the oil refinery is "deeply saddened" by the death and said the company's thoughts and prayers are with his family.

A blast at the Chevron refinery in Pembroke in June killed four people.