The family of a man who froze to death at a wind farm near New Cumnock have been given a six-figure sum of compensation.

Ronnie Alexander, 74, died at the Afton wind farm after being stranded during severe weather.

The security guard from Kilmarnock succumbed to hypothermia after his cabin generator failed leaving him without electricity or heat.

The tragic incident happened on January, 21, 2018, hours after the Met Office issued a yellow "be aware" warning for heavy snow in the area.

An alarm was raised after Ronnie failed to return home from a 12-hour shift and he couldn’t be reached on his mobile phone.

Police Scotland’s mountain rescue team found the grandfather alive but unresponsive five hours later in deep snow and nearly one mile from the cabin.

It is thought Ronnie left his cabin in the hope of reaching a second site cabin in the hope it still had power so he could survive the night.

He was airlifted to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary but died later on the morning of January 22 – cause of death was confirmed as hypothermia.

The tragedy happened just months before his 50th wedding anniversary to his wife Mary Alexander.

The family compensation comes exactly one year after employers CSM Facilities and site bosses Farrans Construction were fined £860,000 over failings that led to the death.

Mary, 82, said the only positive she can hope for is that construction bosses everywhere make things safer for workers.

She said: “The last few years have been utterly hellish.

“Everything about the loss of Ronnie, and life without him, has been a heartbreak.

“Now that all the court hearings are finished it would be wrong to say I’m ‘happy’ or ‘better’ – I’m only glad those parts are over and I can focus my full attention on my family.

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“I just hope lessons can be learned from all this by those who operate in construction or remote locations.

“Keeping people safe should not be a hassle or an afterthought. It should be priority number one to avoid these very tragedies.

“I’d finally just like to thank everyone who supported us but we now just wish to have our privacy respected as we focus on the future.”

Ronnie’s daughter Laura Alexander said at the time of the incident: “The only saving grace is rescuers found our dad and the hospital kept him alive long enough so he wasn’t alone at the very end and we got to say goodbye.”

Ronnie is survived by his wife, two daughters and three grandsons.

His Glasgow-based employers, CSM Facilities, and wind farm bosses Farrans Construction, which is based in Belfast, were fined a total of £868,000 at Ayr Sheriff Court in November 2021.

The two firms admitted health and safety breaches that contributed to the fatal accident.

The undisclosed six-figure compensation has now been paid to the family following an employer’s liability legal action with Digby Brown Solicitors who sought civil damages against the two firms.

Damian White, partner in Digby Brown’s Ayr office, said: “The heartbreak and trauma felt by the Alexander family is something very few could fully appreciate.

“Throughout the numerous investigations and processes that followed this tragic and avoidable incident they have continued to show and express dignity and strength.

“It should be a given that loved ones come home from their work which is why safety regulations exist – and that is why it is right the two companies were convicted and why it is right they recognise the loss felt by the Alexander family via civil damages.”