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John Mackay was operating a cherry picker as part of work to dismantle the railings and pipes outside an old coke tower at the SSI site in South Bank, near Redcar, when he died in the blast on September 19.

Another man, Tommy Williams, who was working for London-based contractor J F Hunt, was also on the access platform and died in the incident.

John's family told the Edinburgh Evening News their bodies lay in the basket at the top of the machine about 70 metres up for six nights after the explosion, as firefighters struggled to put out the flames and make it safe for someone to take them down.

The scene of the blast which killed John Mackay and Tommy Williams at the former coke works in South Bank, Teeside. The cherry picker their bodies were left on for days is just visible. John and Ann on their wedding day. Pictures: Tom Wilkinson/PA and Nicholas Creevy

The incident is still subject to a joint investigation by police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

But John's widow, Ann Mackay, believes her husband's death was preventable and that a local contractor with more site knowledge may have been better placed to carry out the demolition work. A freedom of information request shared with the family revealed the contract selected was the cheapest of eight which responded to tender.

The South Tees Site Company, established in 2016 for the management of the former SSI steelworks site, is helping John's family with the visit in September and said all contractors are appointed following a robust and thorough procurement process.

Ann, who was due to move into a new home in Broxburn with John just a few days after he was killed, said: "I want justice, my husband lost his life.

John and Ann Mackay on their wedding day three years ago. Pic: Nicholas Creevy.

"It's had a massive effect on my life but fighting for John is what makes me strong. He loved life, was a very outgoing person and loved to sing and loved music. He was well loved and liked and would do anything for anyone.

"He was the most generous man I knew and I feel like I am lost without him."

'Worst day of our lives'

Ann said she was also disappointed about how her husband's employer, Nationwide Platforms, handled his death with the family - both at the time and in the months since.

Staff initially called her by phone on the day to say there had been an incident in Redcar involving her husband - but it was only when she called them back for more details that she was told he was dead.

Police came to her home later that night to say her husband's body was still at the top of the access platform, contrary to what she had been told earlier that day by the company about him being taken to a burns unit in Middlesbrough.

She says the company initially said a death in service payment would be made equal to 2.5 times her husband's salary - but a clause in the policy said because he had worked there less than five years it would only be twice his basic salary.

Ann says it meant the difference of a large five figure sum, as her husband's normal earnings would be way above a basic salary due to the substantial overtime he worked. She also raised concerns that there was no policy distinction between an employee being killed at work and a death unrelated to work.

The 54-year-old, who is a social care worker, also said she was subject to insensitive comments from Nationwide Platforms staff when they offered money to help pay for the funeral - and one employee said they would provide a donation "as long as you are not organising a full pipe band."

Ann says she has not heard anything more from the firm since January, adding: "This is about the recognition of their deaths. We have not forgotten John and Tommy."

John's family has organised three or four cherry pickers to display banners in memory of the two men who lost their lives for the site visit in September. Both families will be there for 2pm, when the explosion happened, and plan to lay flowers at the spot where they died and a lone piper will also be in attendance.

John's sister, Magi Mackay, also told the Evening News the afternoon of the explosion was the "worst day of our lives," adding: "They (Nationwide Platforms) never even sent my mum and dad a bouquet of flowers. The day after it happened, I told my work and a huge bouquet of flowers arrived.

"I even wrote to the company chairman but did not get an acknowledgement. All we want is for them to say 'sorry for your loss' for my mum and dad (Myra and John Mackay)."

'Much loved'

Magi said her brother, who grew up in Broomhouse in Edinburgh and had two children, was a "work-aholic" and was a "much loved" person who would do anything for anyone.

John would drive cherry pickers for all sorts of jobs, from helping window cleaners up to high buildings to roof surveys and industrial work - and he even worked on the set of movies including Avengers, Trainspotting 2 and the TV series Outlander.

He would have turned 50 on Christmas Day last year and the family had planned a party - and they went through with it in his memory.

About 500 people turned up for John's funeral last year.

Magi, 52, added: "He found his soulmate in Ann. It took a long time for him to find her but, for the first time in his life, he was truly happy."

The South Bank coke ovens were part of the SSI complex, which had offices and a blast furnace in nearby Redcar.

The steelworks announced its closure in 2015 when its Thai-based owners went into liquidation, resulting in 2,200 workers losing their jobs.

In January last year, a deal was agreed to transfer more than half of the developable land at the former Redcar steelworks to the South Tees Development Corporation.

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: “As the anniversary of the incident draws near, our thoughts remain with the families of the two men who sadly died.

"The joint police and HSE investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is continuing and there are no additional updates at this time."

A spokesperson for Nationwide Platforms said: "John Mackay’s death on 19 September 2019 at the former SSI steelworks site in Redcar came as a shock to everyone at Nationwide Platforms: he was a much-loved employee.

"We know that the family have unanswered questions and are seeking resolution and closure to this tragedy – we share their frustration and understand the pain this is causing all concerned. However, we are unable to comment, respond or discuss the matter as it is subject to a police investigation.

"We take our responsibilities as an employer extremely seriously: the safety of our workforce and customers is of paramount importance. It is our duty to continue to assist the authorities with their enquiries. We are unable to comment further.”

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Heartbroken family of Edinburgh man killed in former steelworks explosion and left on cherry picker for 6 nights will visit site one year on