A contractor who died while carrying out maintenance work on a turbine at a Caithness windfarm was named last night as 27-year-old Colin Sinclair.
A spokesman for Northern Constabulary said he was from Calder Drive, Thurso.
Fire brigade, ambulance and police attended the RWE npower renewables’ 24-turbine windfarm on the Causewaymire after reports of an accident shortly after 9am yesterday.
The Sea King helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth was also called out and a winchman was lowered with a stretcher to an access door at the top of the 200ft tower.
Mr Sinclair died at the scene a short time later, despite efforts to revive him.
The RAF helicopter and stretcher were then used to recover his body.
Last night, Thurso Highland Councillor Donnie Mackay said people were stunned to learn of the accident.
He said: “It’s very, very sad, especially when it’s someone from your own community.
“All our thoughts go out to the family that are left behind. It’s obviously a very difficult time for them.”
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Liberal Democrat MSP Jamie Stone said: “I am desperately sorry to hear this news and I am sure all our hearts go out to his family.
“It’s really important that we discover how this accident happened and make sure that every measure is put in place to minimise the likelihood of any repetition.”
Mr Sinclair, part of the maintenance team, was operating machinery at the top of the tower two miles off the A9 Latheron-Thurso road when the accident happened.
Paramedics gave him first aid after he was found unconscious on the top floor of the tower.
He and a workmate had just climbed up the internal stairs of the tower to start work.
A colleague, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s come as a real shock to all of us.
“We all had breakfast together just beforehand. We don’t know just what happened to him.”
Northern Constabulary has begun an investigation into the accident.
The Heath and Safety Executive (HSE) has also been informed and one of its officers is expected to begin a separate investigation soon.
The accident was at turbine number 18 on the south side of the 55-megawatt farm, 10 miles south of Thurso.
Mr Sinclair was one of a maintenance team employed by Siemens, which manufactured the turbines.
A police spokesman said: “Our inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the death are ongoing and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal in due course.”
A spokesman for the HSE said: “The police are taking the lead on this just now but we would expect that we will be sending one of our inspectors to the site to carry out an investigation in the next day or two.”
It is the first industrial accident since the site was commissioned in 2004.
A representative of RWE npower renewables said: “We have regretfully been informed of the fatality involving a contractor.
“Our thoughts at this time are very much with his family.
“The cause of the incident is being investigated by RWE npower renewables and the necessary authorities and we will be fully co-operating with the Health and Safety Executive.”