‘We’ll never forgive the fire chiefs who allowed our mother to die’

The daughters of Alison Hume say they will never forgive the senior fire chiefs who left their mother down a 50ft mine shaft for fear of breaching health and safety guidelines.

Jayne and Sophie Hume are considering taking legal action against Strathclyde Fire and Rescue over the botched rescue attempt in July 2008.

Yesterday Jayne Hume, 20, said: “As far as I am concerned, the people in charge that night stood there and left our mother to die. We can never forgive them for that.”

The two sisters were speaking after Strathclyde Fire and Rescue was last week the subject of a damning verdict by a fatal accident inquiry which insisted it “should have saved” the life of the 44-year-old lawyer.

Ms Hume suffered “survivable” injuries after plunging down a collapsed mineshaft in Galston, Ayrshire, but developed acute hypothermia, had a heart attack and died in hospital after Group Commander Paul Stewart decided rescue equipment that could have brought her to the surface hours earlier should not be used on members of the public, only firefighters.

Last week, Sheriff Desmond Leslie said she may have lived if fire chiefs had not halted rescue attempts on the grounds of health and safety.

First Minister Alex Salmond has ordered a further inquiry into the performance of the fire service that night. Ms Hume’s daughters say they will await its outcome before deciding if they will take legal action.

Jayne said yesterday: “My mother’s death ruined our lives. Everything fell apart after we lost her. She was our rock, and there is never a day goes by that we don’t wish she was still here.”

Sophie, 18, said that the death of her mother had ruined her life and had made it difficult to concentrate in school.

“Every girl needs their mother, and we can never forgive the people who could have saved her – but didn’t,” she said. “Her injuries were not life- threatening and she should still have been with us today.

“We need to see justice for our mum, and we hope the new inquiry will lead to certain people, who failed her that night, finally being held to account. I know mum would be angry at me, but after she died I just gave up on everything.

“I stopped trying at school. I thought, ‘What’s the point?’ I’ve looked at what mum achieved and in the space of one day, it was all gone. I’ve still got her legal gown and certificates. I can’t bear to part with them.”

On the night of the accident it was Jayne who discovered her mother had plunged into the pit. She said: “Sometimes I feel we would have been better off trying to save her ourselves. We had thought of getting our own rope and my cousin was going to go down. I wish we had now.

“We are really happy about the inquiry because there are questions still needing answered. We want to make sure no other family has to go through this.

“As far as I am concerned, the people in charge that night stood there and left our mother to die. We can never forgive them for that.”

Her other regret is that she was unable to kiss her mother goodbye after her death. Jayne said: “One of my biggest regrets is she looked so bad I couldn’t bear to kiss her.

“Her face was badly swollen. Her beautiful long hair was matted. Her fingernails were all broken where she had tried to claw her way out of the hole. All I could do was stroke her and say, “Night, night, Mum, I love you.”

Last night a spokesman for Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said: “Our thoughts and condolences are obviously with Alison’s family and friends.

“Pending the review announced by the First Minister, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”