The family of the Spanish worker who lost his life in the 2011 port explosion received an out of court settlement from the operators of an undisclosed amount.

The operators Nature Port Reception Facilities were made to pay a fine of £120,000 by the Magistrates’ Court, and this sum has been given to Pedro Zambrano Lopez’s family as further compensation.

Paloma Zambrano, daughter of the deceased, told YGTV that receiving compensation from the company has given the family a sense of closure.

She wanted to thank the Government for the extra sum handed over by the Chief Minister Fabian Picardo today, and is enormously grateful.

Paloma, who is studying to be a nurse, added: “After four years of legal proceedings, we are glad to have reached a settlement.

“We will still miss our father, but this has helped to clear his name and we can now move on with our lives.”

Mr Zambrano Lopez left behind his wife Monse Ramirez and two daughters, Paloma, 24, and 11-year-old Paola.

Eric Ellul, the lawyer representing the family, explained the difficulties the family had faced during the past four years until the operators were found to be in breach of health and safety regulations by Magistrates’ Court in December 2014.

Mr Ellul said the frustration was immense, but he is happy for the family, whom he described as a humble family with enormous dignity.

He said: “This sum will never bring back their father or husband, but hopefully it will give them a better standard of living.”

Mr Picardo explained that the government was keen to hand over the fine after finding a law that allowed this sum to be given to the family of the deceased.

He added: “This is a tragic case where there was a death and someone had suffered an injury, and being able to give something back to the family is the most appropriate way to deal with it.”

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