Dundee Hotel receptionist died after 'tragic' fall through Perspex roof panels

A Dundee hotel worker died after falling through a Perspex walkway while cleaning, an inquiry has found.

Garry Anderson was working as a receptionist at Premier Inn Dundee West Hotel when he died on August 22, 2023.

A Fatal Inquiry held into the 62-year-old’s death heard that he had approached the deputy hotel manager to ask if he could clean an outdoor walkway at the back of the building.

The receptionist was then reported to have remarked how the Perspex panels over the walkway were dirty.

The deputy manager told Mr Anderson that he would not be going up on the flat roof, to which he remarked that he was “too old for that”.

A customer in the restaurant later noticed that Mr Anderson was on the roof with the pressure washer.

The witness reportedly heard a “scuff” sound and saw the receptionist fall through a gap in the Perspex panels and onto the walkway below.

The deputy hotel manager also heard a loud bang and saw Mr Anderson lying on the ground near a Perspex panel.

He was taken to Ninewells Hospital and underwent neurosurgery, but was pronounced dead two days later.

A post-mortem concluded that he died from a blunt force head injury and an uncontrolled descent from height.

Sheriff Way made no recommendations following an inquiry into the death and concluded the death was “tragic and untimely”.

He said: “His loss is a tragedy for his family and workmates.

“I thank the parties for their assistance in conducting this inquiry. I wish to particularly commend them for the significant preparation and the efficient, sensitive manner in which they conducted the inquiry.

“I join with them in expressing sincere condolences to the family of the late Mr Anderson.”