Family accepts crushing not foul play

Published: 8:54PM Tuesday July 28, 2009 Source: NZPA

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The family of the New Zealand teacher crushed to death in a British rubbish compactor after falling asleep in a communal wheelie bin has called for new safety measures to prevent further tragedies.

Teacher Scott Williams, 35, climbed into the industrial-size container after a night out drinking with friends.

His body was found in a crusher in the coastal city of Brighton after the bin was emptied the next morning.

Williams' brother Tony told the Mirror newspaper in London: "Something needs to be done about these types of bins. There have already been two (other) cases involving homeless people.

"I would like councils to introduce new safety measures to stop people being killed."

The New Zealander died after he spent the night in the bin in Brighton earlier this month.

His death followed other incidents involving the city's large communal bins. Two homeless men asleep in the containers almost died on separate occasions as they were lifted into lorries. Staff heard their screams and stopped the crusher.

Tony Williams, 37, who had been with Scott during the day before he went out drinking, and the brothers' mother Marion, of Hamilton, had suspected foul play was involved in the death of the popular maths and PE teacher.

But the family now accepts it was a tragic accident.

Tony Williams says: "We have spoken to a lot of people, the pathologist, senior police officers and a lot of our questions have been answered."

Brighton and Hove City Council say the bin in which the teacher died belonged to and was emptied by a private firm.

A spokesman adds: "We put signs on our bins warning people that climbing inside them is dangerous.

"Private contractors might consider putting warnings on theirs. This is a sad incident but it's difficult to protect people from every potential accident, particularly when alcohol is involved."

Sussex Police investigating the case say it appears Williams climbed into a wheelie bin and fell asleep, and was picked up by a rubbish truck.

Williams started his teaching career at Pakuranga College, Auckland, as a PE and maths teacher, and first left for the UK in 2000.

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