The police investigation into the death of Gogglebox star George Gilbey has been officially closed, with two men who were arrested following his fatal 80ft fall through a skylight facing no further action. Essex Police confirmed today that the criminal probe has been dropped and the case will now be handled solely by the Health and Safety Executive.
George, 40, died on March 27 last year after falling through a plastic skylight while working on a roof at an industrial site in Shoeburyness, Essex. The self-employed electrician suffered traumatic injuries to his head and torso and was pronounced dead at the scene despite the efforts of paramedics and an air ambulance crew.
Two men, aged 37 and 49, both from Witham, had been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter but have now been released without charge after spending more than a year under investigation.
Criminal Investigation Closed
Essex Police confirmed the decision to close their criminal investigation today, stating: “The thoughts of everyone at Essex Police remain with George’s family and friends.” The force had been working jointly with the Health and Safety Executive since the incident occurred at EGL Homecare in Campfield Road.
The Health and Safety Executive will now lead the investigation into whether there were any breaches of workplace safety regulations. HSE inspector Natalie Prince said: “We have been a part of this inquiry from the outset, and we will continue to thoroughly investigate George’s tragic death as the lead agency.”
She added: “This will aim to establish if there have been any breaches of health and safety law. We are in regular contact with George’s family and our thoughts remain with them at this time.”
The HSE has the power to prosecute employers and individuals for breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which could result in significant fines or imprisonment if violations are found.
Inquest Suspended Pending Investigation
An inquest into George’s death was opened in April last year but was immediately suspended pending the outcome of the criminal investigation. Essex Senior Coroner Lincoln Brookes had said the matter would be reviewed after four months, though it remains suspended.
During the brief inquest hearing, Coroner’s officer Deborah Frost revealed the circumstances of the tragedy, stating Mr Gilbey had been “working on a roof when he fell through a plastic skylight, landing on the ground below.”
The provisional cause of death was recorded as “traumatic injury to head and torso consistent with fall from height” – a finding that underscores the severe nature of the injuries sustained in the 80ft fall.
Mother’s Heartbreaking Tribute
George’s devastated mother Linda McGarry, 74, previously revealed that her son had only been back at work for three days when the tragedy occurred. The qualified roofer and electrician had been trying to “rebuild his life” after struggling with the death of his stepfather Pete McGarry.
“I’m devastated, he was like my best friend,” Linda told local media at the time. “He had the best heart in the world. He was generous, funny and kind, with bundles of charm and buckets of personality.”
She revealed that George had never recovered from Pete’s death from bowel cancer in 2021 at the age of 71, saying: “He just couldn’t get over the death of Pete.”
Adding to the family’s troubles, Linda had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, news that hit George particularly hard. “I have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and George took it worse than me. He was a mummy’s boy,” she said.
From Reality TV Fame to Personal Struggles
George found fame alongside his mother and stepfather on Channel 4’s Gogglebox between 2013 and 2018, becoming one of the show’s most beloved families. The trio were fixtures on the reality show for eight series, winning hearts with their warm-hearted commentary on the week’s television.
In 2014, George also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, reaching the final and finishing fourth. However, his mother revealed he had struggled with the trappings of fame.
“He came to celebrity overnight but didn’t really want to be – he was just normal,” Linda explained. “But it allowed him to do charity work and anytime anyone contacted him about charity work, he prioritised it.”
She proudly noted that despite his struggles, George had achieved remarkable things: “He did more in his 40 years than people do in 90 – he’s even had dinner with the Prince of Dubai.”
A Father’s Love
George left behind a seven-year-old daughter, Amelie Iris, with his ex-partner. His mother said the little girl was his “absolute world” and that he “lived for that little girl and his mum.”
Linda described her son as a complex character: “George was a real contradiction – he was so funny and so intelligent. A lot of people don’t know how intelligent George was. He was smart, which allowed him to be quick-witted and he was loud and outgoing, but at the same time very sensitive. He helped others, but he struggled himself.”
Workplace Deaths Remain Major Concern
George’s death highlights the ongoing crisis of workplace fatalities in Britain, with falls from height consistently the leading cause of death at work. Latest HSE figures show that 40 people lost their lives due to falls from height in 2022-23, representing a third of all workplace deaths.
The tragedy has renewed calls for stricter safety measures when working at height, with campaigners pointing out that many such deaths are entirely preventable with proper safety equipment and procedures.
Friends had reportedly told media that George had scaled the warehouse without a harness before his fatal fall, with one source claiming: “George had not been in a good way and maybe should not have been working at all.”
Celebrity Friends Pay Tribute
Following news of the investigation’s closure, tributes have been renewed for the much-loved television personality. Former Geordie Shore star Ricci Guarnaccio, who appeared alongside George on Celebrity Big Brother, had previously shared his grief.
“Breaks my heart but George Gilbey you are well and truly going to be missed my friend,” he wrote. “Always lit up the room, cared for others and the memories we made I’ll cherish forever brother. From CBB to speaking to you last week, I’m going to hugely miss you ma boiii!”
Channel 4 said in their statement: “George was part of the Gogglebox family alongside his mum Linda and step-dad Pete. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Linda, and George’s family and friends at this very sad time.”
Investigation Continues
While the criminal investigation has concluded, the HSE’s probe into potential health and safety breaches continues. The organisation will examine whether proper safety procedures were in place and if any regulations were violated that contributed to George’s death.
The outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for workplace safety practices, particularly regarding work at height and the use of safety equipment such as harnesses when accessing roofs.
For George’s family and friends, the closure of the criminal investigation brings some finality to one aspect of this tragedy, though questions about workplace safety remain to be answered by the ongoing HSE investigation.
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