Family welcomes search for Lúðvík Pétursson’s remains

The family of Lúðvík Pétursson has welcomed a decision to search a fissure in Grindavík for his remains, while continuing to question the circumstances of his death, mbl.is reported.

Police said the search will begin Tuesday at Vesturhóp 29. Lúðvík fell into a ground collapse while working in January 2024.

His brother, Elías Pétursson, wrote on Facebook that the family had requested a search from the outset. He thanked everyone who helped secure the decision and those who would go down into the fissure, but criticised how long it had taken.

Elías said it was difficult to accept that nearly three years had passed before the decision was made. A risk assessment, input from foreign experts and measures to reduce risks were needed before it was considered safe to send people down, he wrote, adding that caution was justified.

But he said no comparable assessment had been made when Lúðvík and a co-worker were assigned to fill beneath a house in a dangerous area of Grindavík.

“What hurts most is that this was unnecessary. Lúlli did not die because of uncontrollable natural forces, but because of decisions that were made and decisions that were not made, but should have been,” Elías wrote.

He said the search would allow the family to say goodbye to Lúðvík at his funeral. The family would also continue seeking answers about how the accident happened.