The father of a football mascot who captured the nation’s hearts before tragically dying of cancer has been left unable to work following a serious work accident, a court heard.
Bradley Lowery’s father Carl, 41, was badly burned while working on a new apartment block in Hulme Street, Salford when an electric flash blew him backwards.
He was left with burns to his arms and face after the incident in May 2020, which resulted in him needing a skin graft from his thigh.
It was almost three years after Bradly died from a rare form of cancer.
Undated handout handout photo of issued by Health and Safety Executive of Carl Lowery following the incident
Bradley Lowery (pictured) captured the nations with his brave battle against a rare form of cancer
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation was launched, which led to Aberla M&E Limited, the firm responsible, being prosecuted on March 14.
The company has been given a £60,000 fine, a court heard.
Mr Lowery continued to work throughout his son’s heartbreaking illness but the injuries he suffered meant that in three years since his own accident, he has been unable to work.
In his victim personal statement, Mr Lowery said: ‘Even when Bradley was poorly I worked.
‘I’ve not been able to work since the accident either, mentally or physically.
‘My left hand is my dominant hand and after the accident I had no grip, I had to try and learn how to use my non-dominant hand.’
Aberla had subcontracted SRE Cabling and Jointing Limited and Carl, then 37, was working with a colleague on the site in Salford on May 12, 2020.
They were working on the building’s main switchboard with live electrics in place.
A gap in a guard panel that should have protected them from electricity led to a nut rolling and coming into contact with the electrics. This led to a flash which burned Carl.
An HSE investigation found Aberla had ‘incorrectly assumed’ the guard panel was enough to keep workers safe.
Also, the company had failed to take into account the gap in the panel which risked objects, including fingers, touching live electrics.
There was also a failure to issue a ‘permit to work’ on or near live electric components as well as a ‘distinct lack’ of live works monitoring, the HSE said.
Bradley Lowery with his parents Carl and Gemma at the Pride of the North East awards
Since his death, the Bradley Lowery Foundation has raised millions of pounds to support sick children with their treatments. Bradley pictured in 2016
Aberla M&E Limited, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, admitted to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act.
The company was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £20,000 in costs at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on March 14, 2024, the HSE said.
HSE inspector Lisa Bailey said: ‘This incident has had life-changing consequences for Carl and his family.
‘It could have been avoided if the company had actively monitored and managed procedures, to identify risks and prevent incidents.
‘Working with electricity is a high-risk activity and safety must be a priority.
‘Proper planning to ensure that risks are eliminated at system design stage is essential.’
Previously, Carl’s wife Gemma spoke of how he had been ‘lucky to be alive’ and spent two weeks in hospital following the incident.
Mr and Mrs Lowery set up the Bradley Lowery Foundation which helps the families of sick children.
Bradley, who was a huge Sunderland fan, struck up a remarkable friendship with striker Jermain Defoe and was a mascot for the club and England.
The family from Blackhall Colliery, County Durham, captured hearts around the globe as brave Bradley battled neuroblastoma.
Since his death, the Bradley Lowery Foundation has raised millions of pounds to support sick children with their treatments.
