Northampton brewing giant Carlsberg is charged under health and safety laws after a factory worker died after inhaling ammonia in a deadly leak

David Chandler, 45, died almost instantly after being exposed to the gas while being sent to carry out repairs “like a canary down a mine”.

The toxic leak happened during work on the compressor - which uses ammonia to chill products used in brewing beer- at the plant in Northampton on November 9, 2016

In total, 22 people, including 11 staff, two police officers and nine firefighters, were taken to hospital for treatment.

Mr Chandler was pronounced dead in hospital and a post mortem revealed he died as a result of inhaling ammonia.

Today (Friday) Jeremy Brown, Carlsberg company secretary, appeared on behalf of the firm at Birmingham Magistrates Court.

They pleaded guilty to two charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and one under the Management of Health and Safety At Work Regulations 1999.

The company will be sentenced at a later date.

District Judge Joanna Dickens said: “This is obviously a tragic situation. Ultimately it needs the most senior type of judge to deal with it.

“That’s what everyone deserves, certainly the families of the deceased."

An inquest previously concluded the tragedy was preventable, after hearing gas had escaped from a valve in the compressor unit before exploding in his face in a "great blue cloud of smoke".

Witnesses told how Mr Chandler and a colleague had been trying to move the compressor using an overhead hoist when the toxic leak occurred.

Mr Chandler, of Bridgnorth, Shrops., was married to Laura, 34, They had two daughters, Ava, seven, and four-year-old Isabella.

At the time of his death, his family paid tribute and said: "David was a happy person, he always had a smile on his face, was always happy to help others and you would never hear anyone say a bad thing about him.

"Not only do Laura, Ava and Isabella have to learn to cope with this, but also David's two sisters and father who are left devastated and heartbroken.

"Although David is no longer with us he will always be part our family. Isabella and Ava will grow up knowing how much he loved them and how his family meant the world to him.

“Our family would like to thank the emergency services for everything they did that day.

“We also want to thank David’s colleagues who were working with him.

“They showed great bravery in giving evidence during the inquest, reliving what must have been a terrifying experience which lives with them to this day.”

A spokesperson for Carlsberg UK said: "The thoughts and sympathies of everyone at Carlsberg UK remain with the Chandler family at this time.

"We are co-operating fully with the Health and Safety Executive prosecution and will continue to do so throughout the ongoing legal process."