DREAMSPACE creator Maurice Agis has died – robbing grieving families of any hope of hearing his explanation of the tragedy.

The artist behind the inflatable artwork, which broke free from its moorings killing two people, died in a Spanish hospital on Monday.

The 77-year-old had been ill for several months.

Disaster struck at Riverside Park, in Chester-le-Street, in July 2006, when a wind whipped Dreamspace into the air. Mother-of-two Claire Furmedge, 38, of Chester-le- Street, and grandmother Elizabeth Collings, 68, of Seaham, east Durham, died and 27 people were injured, including three-year-old Rosie Wright, from Langley Park, County Durham.

Mr Agis said he was consumed by the suffering caused, but did not give evidence at his trial – denying victims’ families the chance to hear his perspective on the disaster.

Last night, Lee Wright, father of Rosie, said: “I have no feelings to Agis one way or the other. As far as I know he never apologised.”

Mr Agis’ death was confirmed by a spokesman for Shaw Graham Kersh, the law firm that represented him during his manslaughter trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

The spokesman said: “Mr Agis passed away on Monday, October 12, in Spain. I cannot give any further details.”

Raymond Shaw, Mr Agis’ solicitor, could not be contacted for comment.

Sally Moore, a solicitor at London-based law firm Leigh Day and Co, which represents the families who lost loved ones, said they had hoped to hear Mr Agis’ explanation of the tragedy.

She said: “We had not given up hope that we might hear his explanation, but one of the main protagonists will not be around anymore.

“Beyond that, I can’t really say any more.”

Mr Agis, of Bethnal Green, east London, originally faced two counts of manslaughter, but following a month-long trial a jury failed to reach a verdict on the charges.

He admitted failing to ensure the safety of the public – an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act – and was fined £10,000.

In August, Lord Justice Goldring, sitting with Mr Justice Griffith Williams and Mr Justice King at the Court of Appeal, reduced the fine to £2,500 after hearing that the artist, who lived with his Spanish partner, had little money and had been in a Spanish hospital since the end of July. Mr Agis was given four months to pay the reduced amount or face 45 days in jail.

After the appeal hearing, Susan Campbell, daughter of Elizabeth Collings, branded the outcome a disgrace, saying Mr Agis’ actions placed hundreds of peoples’ lives at risk.

It is not known whether Mr Agis paid all, some, or none of the fine before his death.

Prior to the Dreamspace tragedy, Mr Agis was a respected sculptor and artist.

Born in London in 1931, he studied painting and sculpture at the capital’s St Martin’s School of Art. In the Sixties, his disillusionment with galleries and museums led him to create signature interactive works, including a series of walk-through spaces.

After 20 years of collaboration with Peter Jones, he began working alone in 1980.

Dreamspace V, a walk-in structure half the size of a football pitch, was installed in Riverside Park, Chester-le- Street, on July 22, 2006. The next day, the artwork soared 30ft into the air, with up to 20 people inside.

Chester-le-Street District Council, which staged the Dreamspace exhibition and has since been replaced by Durham County Council, was fined £20,000 after admitting health and safety offences.

An inquest into the deaths of Mrs Collings and Mrs Furmedge is expected to be held later this year. Interested parties have begun preliminary talks with Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle and a behind-closed-doors meeting is planned for next week.