WARNINGS were made about the need for satellite phones at an isolated windfarm site A YEAR before a man died after becoming stranded.

This was the claim this week from a construction worker who raised the safety issue about the Afton Wind Farm in January 2017.

One man, aged 74, died following an incident on Sunday, January 21, 2018 at the isolated site.

He and a 42-year-old colleague were left for hours without heat and power before being rescued by Police Scotland’s mountain rescue team.

The worker, who wished to remain anonymous, said those in the industry had been left shocked at what had happened.

He said: “No one understands how this could have happened. We don’t understand why they were there, when no one could get in or out. There are only about five or six spots where you get a mobile phone signal no matter what network you are on.

“I flagged that up in January as a safety issue.

“They should have had satellite phones and they didn’t. The family only notified the authorities because they didn’t return home. The guys that were supposed to replace them couldn’t get up there. The alarm was only raised because they didn’t return home.”

About the incident at Afton last week, he added: “They were manning a gate a mile up a hill. It’s a single-track road which dictates access and exit to the site. There can be nothing at the bottom and 2ft of snow at the top of the hill, that’s where the risk factor is. I don’t understand how this could happen.”

Windfarm owners InfraRed Capital Partners said they had no comment to make at this stage.

Security firm CSM Facilities had not responded as we went to press.

The Health and Safety Executive and Police Scotland are conducting an investigation.