The crane on its side in the Old Bedford River, at Mepal near Ely.

THE Environment Agency has pleaded guilty to a charge under the health and safety at work act after a crane driver died while trying to clear an icy river.

Police at the scene along Brangehill Grove in Mepal, after a crane toppled into the river it had been dredging.

Simon Wenn, 43, of Three Holes, near Wisbech, died after the crane he was operating toppled over into an icy fen drain at Mepal in December 2010.

Appearing at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, the Environment Agency pleaded guilty and was committed to Cambridge Crown Court to be sentenced.

Mr Wenn, who had more than six years’ experience operating cranes, had been desilting the Old Bedford River when the incident took place.

At an inquest into his death earlier this year, the coroner was told that emergency services reached the scene within 10 minutes.

Rescue teams managed to free Mr Wenn’s head and shoulders from the cab and bring them above the icy water - but his leg was trapped by the crane preventing a full escape.

He was confirmed dead two hours later by a doctor at the scene.

Jurors at the inquest returned a verdict of accidental death after taking guidance from Coroner William Morris.