Investigation after death of Openreach engineer at Abergwyngregyn

North Wales Police have issued an update statement following an incident by Abergwyngregyn last night.

A multi-agency search and rescue operation was commenced shortly before 4pm yesterday, following reports of a BT engineer being swept downstream in a river.

Regrettably despite the best efforts of the search teams the body of a 32 year old local male was subsequently recovered at 7.14pm.

North Wales Police have now confirmed the name of the man to be Alun Owen, known locally to family and friends as “Al Bonc”.

DI Andrew Gibson said: ‘Our heartfelt sympathies are with the family, friends and colleagues of the engineer at this incredibly difficult time and we would ask that their privacy is respected at this tragic time by the media.’

“The Health and Safety Executive and North Wales Police are working together to establish the sequence of events which led to this tragic incident which resulted in the death of a well-respected local man. As an investigation is underway, we are unable to make any further comment.

The coroner for North West Wales, Mr Dewi Pritchard Jones has been informed.

A rescue team have also expressed their condolences after taking part in a large scale operation last night where the body of a man was discovered.

The Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation have published an update on search attempts last night which sadly ended when the body of a man was found.

They said, “The team were called out just before 1700 to reports of a telephone engineer having fallen into the Afon Aber and being swept away. Once on scene the team joined colleagues from North Wales Police, Fire and Rescue, the Coastguard and Welsh Ambulance Service in a large scale, multi agency search to locate the casualty.”

“Responding to a possible sighting by the Coastguard helicopter a fire brigade team confirmed a likely location at a choke point in the river. Working together, fire brigade and Ogwen team water rescue technicians put lines across the river and used a rescue raft to put two team members onto the position of the sighting. Sadly it was confirmed to be the missing man and recovery continued into darkness.”

“The team would like to offer their condolences to the casualties’ family, friends and colleagues.”

Top image via The Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation