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Fines follow tragic fatality at Cardiff home.

A 96-year-old pensioner fell to her death at a care home in Wales after her wheelchair was accidently pushed into an empty lift shaft.

The pensioner fell to her death at Pontcanna House, Pontcanna, Cardiff, weeks after the owners had been warned by engineers not to use the broken lift.

May Lewis, who was killed in the fall had moved into the care home run by owners, Shirwan Al-Mufti, 69, and wife Nasik, 61, only five days before the accident.

Even though engineers had locked the second floor lift door because it was unsafe, Mr and Mrs Al-Mufti owners told care workers to use an emergency key to override the safety mechanism and continue using the lift.

The couple didn't warn staff of the dangers and care worker, Carol Conway, pulled Mrs Lewis's wheelchair backwards into the lift shaft without realising the lift was still on the ground floor.

Both women plunged 20 feet to the ground floor. Mrs Lewis died and Ms Conway was found semi-conscious with broken ribs, a broken ankle and four fractures in her back. Other staff members heard the noise and opened the door on the ground floor.

Mr and Mrs Al-Mufti, of Cardiff, both pleaded guilty at Cardiff Crown Court to failing to ensure adequate health and safety requirements for employees and non-employees.

They were fined £75,000 and ordered to pay £25,000 costs for health and safety breaches.