Death of Stirling man who had heart attack in his office to be subject of fatal accident inquiry

The death of a 59-year-old man who had a heart attack in his office will be the subject of a fatal accident inquiry (FAI).

Graham Anderson, from Stirling, died after suffering a heart attack at Calachem Limited in Grangemouth on May 1, 2020.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has now lodged a First Notice to begin the court process for a discretionary FAI into his death.

A preliminary hearing is set for July 28 at Stirling Sheriff Court.    

Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on fatalities investigations for COPFS, said: “The Lord Advocate considers that the death of Graham Anderson occurred in circumstances giving rise to serious public concern and as such a discretionary Fatal Accident Inquiry should be held.  

“An FAI will allow a full public airing of the evidence of the procurator fiscal’s wider investigations with interested parties. The evidence will be tested in a public setting and be the subject of an independent judicial determination.” 

The purpose of a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) includes determining the cause of death; the circumstances in which the deaths occurred, and to establish what, if any, reasonable precautions could have been taken, and could be implemented in the future, to minimise the risk of future deaths in similar circumstances.

It is anticipated the focus of the FAI will be on the circumstances surrounding the actions and response of Calachem Ltd in obtaining emergency assistance and the response of the Scottish Ambulance Service to the emergency.

The inquiry will also consider whether there were any defects in any system of working which contributed to the death.

Unlike criminal proceedings, FAIs are inquisitorial in nature, and are used to establish facts rather than to apportion blame.