The best brother anyone could have

Anne Gundry was speaking after two of Christopher Shute's bosses admitted at Winchester Crown Court yesterday that their neglect caused his death.

Mr Shute, 30, died when he fell through the top of the tank at the plant in Swaythling in August 2000 while working as a technical troubleshooter for Philips Services (Europe) Ltd.

Mrs Gundry, 35, of Durlston Road, Millbrook, Southampton: "He was generous, funny, loved life and lived it to the full.

"He did more in his 30 years than most people would have done by the time they are 70. He was the best brother anyone could have.

"Three weeks before I gave birth to a little girl. Christopher was overjoyed because he knew how much I wanted her. We have included his name in hers, Lauren Anne Chris Gundry.

"He was a very spur-of-the-moment person. He would think of something and be gone. He would phone up at 2, 3, or 4am and say 'How are you?' He had no real concept of day or night. Once somebody met Christopher they never forgot him. He had that sort of impact on people. He was my baby brother. We were very close."

Mrs Gundry said the family was poised to take civil action over the death.

With tears in her eyes, Mrs Gundry added: "He was great with his two nephews. They idolised their uncle. He would take them out and they would come back with arms full of toys."

His father, Derek, was too upset to talk.

Mr Shute was unmarried and had moved to a flat in Winchester Road, Shirley, about six weeks before his death. He had held the £26,000-a-year job for about 15 months with Philips Services.

Since the death the company, a British subsidiary of an American firm, has ceased to exist.

Previously he had worked for several years in Germany. He attended Hardley Secondary School in Holbury, near Hythe.

His parents ran the Holbury Inn for many years.

Mrs Gundry said: "He had been back in England for about 15 months. It was the worst decision he ever made. We all wanted him home. If only you could see into the future."

A spokesman for Ford said the company was constrained by the legal proceeding from speaking in detail about the case. He said: "We would like to restate our since condolences to his family and friends."

The two defendants, Peter Preston, 51, of Rowen Park, Blackburn and Paul McKenzie, 55, of Beechwood Avenue, Hartford, Cheshire, both managers at Philips, admitted failing to ensure the safety of their employee and through their neglect causing his death. The charge was brought under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

They had denied manslaughter and that charge will be dropped.

The two men and Ford Motor Company will be sentenced on Thursday.