A father of six was crushed to death in an airport lift shaft following a series of health and safety failings.

Engineer Kevin Dawson, 44, of Kenley Road, Kenley, was killed when a counterweight used as part of a passenger lift at Heathrow Terminal 5 fell on him in October 2007.

Appearing at Isleworth Crown Court on March 30, lift manufacturer Schindler was ordered to pay almost £500,000 after admitting breaching two health and safety orders that contributed to the incident.

The court heard workers frequently shouted messages along the shafts rather than use radio and no risk assessment was made or supervising arranged for the moving of lift parts.

Mr Dawson’s ex-wife, Jackie Tume, and his son Daniel, have fought for justice.

Ms Tume, 48, of Wallington, said: "It feels strange it is finally over. I think it will definetly bring closure for us."

Mr Dawson’s younger brother, Ian, now 46, added: "The initial inquest after his death gave a verdict of accidental death and that was it, which failed to answer any of our questions.

"This decision confirms what we knew, the sad part is of course you cannot put a price on a life. What is that fine to them, compared to living our life without Kevin."

Schindler were fined £300,000 and ordered to pay £169,970 in costs.

The court heard Mr Dawson was working from a ladder within the pit of a lift shaft, into which he and other Schindler employees were installing three lift cars.

As a colleague used one of the cars to fetch equipment from a higher level, a counterweight descended, crushing Mr Dawson.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed the unfinished passenger lift was used to carry workers, tools and materials despite missing key safety-critical components.

Mr Dawson, who had five sons and a daughter from two separate relationships, joined Schindler aged 21.

Ian, who works as a postman in Wimbledon, said: "It was not as if he was inexperienced, he had 23 years as a lift manufacturer.

"We knew someone was to blame. The one positive, if you could say that, is before this his kids from both families didn’t speak.

"His death brought them together and now they get on like a house on fire."