Man dies at Glenfiddich distillery

A worker at the Glenfiddich distillery has died after reportedly throwing himself into a 16-foot washback vat.

Brian Ettles, 46, allegedly killed himself at the facility in Dufftown, Banffshire, on Saturday evening.

The huge container was filled with a mix of water and yeast when the father-of-two jumped in.

Firemen and paramedics raced to the distillery when the alarm was raised at around 10.40pm on Saturday evening, but their efforts to save him were in vain and Ettles, from nearby Keith, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Glenfiddich management took the decision to close the distillery to visitors yesterday (Monday 9 December) as a mark of respect.

A spokesman for the firm said: “We would normally have been open but we decided to close as a mark of respect for the person who died and their family and colleagues.”

The Glenfiddich spokesman added: “A body was found at the distillery and the police are on-site and still investigating.”

A spokeswoman for Grampian Police confirmed: “Officers were called to an address in Dufftown where a 46-year-old man was found dead. There are no suspicious circumstances.”

The Glenfiddich distillery was opened 125 years ago and is still run by the Grant family.

William Grant & Sons’ group operations director Bill White said: “Brian, who had loyally served the company for 22 years, having joined in 1989, was a highly-valued team leader for the last six years and, before that, a popular team member in the Dufftown process team.

“Our heartfelt thoughts, condolences and sympathy go to Brian’s family, friends and colleagues, and to those who worked so closely with him during his 22 years’ service.”