MAG confirms tragic death of colleague after incident in southern Sudan
Manchester, October 2010: It is with great sadness that MAG (Mines Advisory Group) regretfully confirm that on Friday 15 October Stephen “Darby” Allan, one of our Technical Field Managers (TFMs) based in Kapoeta, southern Sudan, was critically injured in an explosion.
The incident happened at about midday local time on Friday whilst Darby was working on a mine clearance site. Despite best efforts and medical attention Darby’s injuries were too severe and he died a few hours later on Friday afternoon.
Nobody else was injured in the explosion.
Darby, 52, had been employed by MAG for the past four years and was a highly-qualified and hugely experienced member of our international technical team.
MAG’s Chief Executive Lou McGrath OBE has today, Monday 18 October, paid the following tribute to Darby:
“Darby’s death has left all of us in MAG shocked and saddened. Our main concern at present is to provide whatever support we can to his family and loved ones. Darby used his skills and significant experience to support the humanitarian mine clearance effort that MAG is undertaking in southern Sudan, and elsewhere around the world, and there is no doubt that over the last four years his work with MAG has saved countless people’s lives. He will be greatly missed by all his colleagues and friends.”
Brief biography
Darby had more than 30 years experience and was highly commended as an advanced Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) expert before joining MAG in 2006.
As a Chief Petty Officer Diver (CPOD) in the Royal Navy, Darby travelled extensively all over the world, specialising in underwater and shoreline clearance as well as safe disposal of lethal remnants of conflict. His experience included active duty during the first Gulf War acting as Chief of the Fleet Diving Unit deployed to Kuwait to clear the city’s harbour, beaches and surrounding terrain of explosives.
His service in the Royal Navy also included a six year posting to Hong Kong (1991-1997) as part of the search and rescue team, involved with the rescue and salvage following marine and diving accidents.
In 2002 Darby moved to the Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal School (DEODS) at Horsea Island as an EOD specialist and trainer, becoming Chief Instructor for the Royal Navy Clearance Diving Officers courses in 2003.
He was appointed as TFM to MAG in October 2006 and deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) programme. Over a period of two years he was involved in many lifesaving clearance projects in DRC, including the underwater removal of 18 items of UXO (unexploded ordnance) and more than 17,000 items of small arms ammunition found in Mbandaka Harbour.
Darby was subsequently moved to MAG’s Lebanon operation, leading teams of national staff members in the clearance of unexploded cluster munitions.
Andy Glesson, one of MAG’s longest-standing members of expert technical staff, was Darby’s line manager during his time in Lebanon: “Darby was a great team member with a dry humour. A dependable, affable technician who managed several clearance teams with skill and determination. His death is a huge loss both to MAG and the EOD world.”
His next deployment was to MAG’s programme in southern Sudan, an extremely challenging environment, where he continued to provide exceptional expertise as TFM. Most recently, Darby had been leading teams of trained Sudanese mine clearance operatives, overseeing the removal of many of the landmines that still threaten communities in and around Kapoeta every day.
His loss has been felt greatly by MAG’s teams all over the world, and our thoughts and condolences are with his family at this devastating time.
PLEASE NOTE: A United Nations-led investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident has been initiated and as such it would not be appropriate for MAG to comment further at this stage.
Notes: Any inquiries about this incident should be directed to Kate Wiggans, Media & PR Officer on + 44 (0) 161 238 5445 / 07979 343 969 / [email protected] or Sean Sutton, Marketing and Communications Manager, on +44 (0) 161 238 5443 / 07818 410476 / [email protected]
MAG is a global humanitarian organisation working to reduce armed violence and the devastating effects remnants of conflict have on communities struggling to recover after war. MAG is co-laureate of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize.