They hoped to have the former employer convicted for breaches but the courts did not hear them. On Wednesday October 4, those close to Thierry Morfaits saw the Rennes Court of Appeal rule in the same direction as the Social Security Court of Saint-Brieuc. In 2022, the Briochine court ruled that the death of Thierry Morfaitse, who died in 2009 in Binic (Côtes-d’Armor) from a heart attack while driving his truck transporting green algae, was indeed a work accident. But had not recognized the Nicol company, which employed the truck driver, as responsible. The lawyer for the victim’s family, however, believes that “serious failings” could have been observed before the death of Thierry Morfaitse. On board his truck, he had no mask, no sealed cabin, no air toxicity measuring device. And therefore no way to check the concentration of hydrogen sulfate, this gas emanating from rotting algae.
Toxic and potentially fatal, H2S has already taken the lives of several animals: dogs, wild boars and horses, who have suffocated among decomposing algae. In the days preceding his death, several disturbing symptoms had been observed in Thierry Morfait: burning eyes, vomiting, headaches. But in the face of justice, the employer’s lawyer put forward arguments. “The reality is that Mr. Morfaitse was a tobacco user and smoked two packs a day, he had cholesterol and had high blood pressure,” the Nicol company’s counsel attacked during the hearing before the court. call.
The Rennes court heard his arguments and confirmed the first instance decision. Contacted, the lawyer for Thierry Morfait’s family explains that he is discussing the legal action to be taken with his clients.