Gruesome footage shows the final moments of a worker who was ‘killed instantly’ when he fell into the industrial shredder while trying to unblock it – as his boss and employer are found guilty of manslaughter

Gruesome footage shows how a worker was killed when he fell into an industrial chipper.

David Willis, 29, fell into a chipper designed for wood and commercial waste at Timmins Waste Services (TWS) in Wolverhampton.

CCTV footage of the tragedy on September 15, 2018 shows Mr Willis being lifted to the machine by the grab arm of a JCB excavator.

His boss, site manager Brian Timmins, was in the cab of the excavator and had told Mr Willis to clear a blockage in the chipper while it was running.

Mr. Willis knelt on the edge of the machine, but as he reached down he fell in and was killed instantly by the huge, interlocking blades.

Footage shows Timmins climbing to the top of the funnel and peering inside before walking away from the scene and taking out his mobile phone.

Prosecutor Christine Agnew KC said CCTV footage showed the machine was still operational at the time but should have been switched off.

He then called Mr Willis’ number before climbing back into the digger and continuing to work – meaning the worker’s remains were buried in shredded rubbish.

As Mr Willis disappeared into the machine, Timmins was seen on CCTV looking around the garden and into the chipper’s ‘hopper’, which directs waste to the machine’s blades, before calling Mr Willis’ phone.

He was then seen looking out the garden gate and running around the property, before returning to the digger and continuing to operate the chipper.

The following day, Timmins returned to the site where workers took 80 tonnes of recycled waste – including Mr Willis’ remains – to a landfill in Cannock, Staffs.

Tragically, police believe Mr Willis’ remains will never be found.

This week Timmins, 54, from Albrighton in Wolverhampton, was found guilty of manslaughter and the company guilty of corporate manslaughter.

Timmins and TWS have previously admitted health and safety charges.

West Midlands Police have released footage of the tragedy following the trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

The jurors’ mother, Mr. Willis, reported him missing the night he didn’t come home from work.

It was only when his jacket was found at the shredder two days later that CCTV footage from the previous Saturday was viewed and it turned out that he had fallen into the shredder.

Detective Inspector Jim Colclough, who led the investigation, said: “We found major, systemic failings at TWS, which put employees at risk.

‘No risk assessments have been carried out and simply no safe working practices have been put in place.

‘Timmins’ inability to shut off the shredder, and his decision to put Mr. Willis in a dangerous position, were the direct cause of this tragedy.

‘We spent many weeks searching the Cannock site but only found part of a tabard that could have belonged to David.

“The failure to recover David has increased the anguish for his family and denied them the opportunity to say goodbye with dignity.”

The jury could not reach a verdict on the charge against Timmins for perverting the course of justice.

Timmins, who was granted unconditional bail, and TWS will be sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on a date to be determined.

After the trial, Willis’ family said in a statement: ‘David’s death is as painful for us now as it was five years ago.

“David missed so many precious family moments, including the birth of his niece and growing up his nephew, who David still treats like his superhero in the sky.”

After the verdicts, Mr Willis’ family said in a statement released through West Midlands Police: ‘David’s death is as painful for us now as it was five years ago.

“David missed so many precious family moments, including the birth of his niece and growing up his nephew, who David still treats like his superhero in the sky.”