Daughters of trapped Didcot workers "not giving up hope"

The daughters of two Rotherham demolition workers want people to know that their dads are still trapped in the wreckage at Didcot Power Station.

Published 12th Apr 2016

The daughters of two Rotherham demolition workers, still trapped under the rubble at Didcot Power Station, say they won't give up until their dads are back home in South Yorkshire.

John Shaw and Ken Cresswell have been missing since part of the building collapsed seven weeks ago on the 23rd February.

John's daughters Emma, 20, and Kirsty, 17, along with Ken's youngest, Sadie, 24, say they're hoping for a miracle and just want answers about what happened.

An investigation's already underway into what caused it by police and the Health and Safety Executive.

They've chosen to speak to Hallam FM because they say people don't realise that their dads still haven't been found after almost two months.

Emma said:

"People think that they've arrived home and they haven't. We're still waiting on news. Every day we're just waking up thinking 'Are they going to get them out today? Are we going to get a call today?'

"For a lot of people it's just been forgotten about as if they're not important. They are important. They're three very important men because they've got families who love them. We just want them home."

John's youngest daughter Kirsty added:

"It's just been torture. Waiting games. It's just been horrible. We love our dads so, so much. They're just being treated like they're not important but they are.

"They shouldn't just be left there. We can deal with whatever state they come home because then we'd have them home. They're worth so much more than being under rubble."

Their families say they've been told the remaining building could be demolished while they're still under the wreckage.

They've thanked all those working at the site to recover the missing men along with a third man who's also unaccounted for; Chris Huxtable, from Wales.

Ken's daughter Sadie said:

"We are still waiting for our dads to come home from work. My mum just wants her husband home; her best friend. We want our dad home.

"He's got grandkids and they want their grandad home. They keep asking when they'll get to see him again and no-one can answer that. It's been seven weeks and that's just too long."

Thames Valley Police and the HSE have given us a joint statement:

“The Health and Safety Executive and Thames Valley Police continue to closely monitor progress on the removal of the collapsed debris. The priority remains to recover the missing men and return them to their families.

"Specialist officers from Thames Valley Police continue to support the families and are providing them with regular updates on the progress of this work.

"TVP and HSE are continuing to jointly work to investigate and establish what caused the building to collapse.”

Energy Company RWE said in a statement:

"Our thoughts are with the four families affected by the partial collapse of the boiler house at the former Didcot A Power Station on 23 February.

"RWE remains committed to doing everything it can to assist the multi-agency recovery operation and return the three missing men to their families.

"RWE began its investigation of the incident and assessment of the remaining structure within 24 hours of the building collapse, while the emergency services undertook the rescue operation.

"Following agreement with the Thames Valley Police and HSE on 19 March 2016, RWE started the clearance process on a section of the debris pile that has been designated as safe and which is furthest away from the remaining structure.

"These debris removal works are ongoing 7 days a week from dawn to dusk.

"Whilst to date everything is progressing to plan, due to the complex nature of the collapse the recovery task will still take many weeks.

"The families of the missing men continue to be kept fully informed by specialist police liaison officers."