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Deaths in 2001
Deaths in 2001
Back to Top Deaths in 2002
FURTHER DETAILS OF DEATHS Ferdinand Himmel
Ferdinand, a goods driver, died three days after being struck by a reversing lorry on 17 July while checking goods at the rear end of an articulated trailer. The inquest was held at Bedfordshire and Luton Coroner’s Court on 22 January 2002. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned. In July 2004 AER Inskip and Co, of Kempston, Beds, pleaded guilty at Luton Crown Court to failing to ensure the health and safety of Ferdinand. After charges were brought company director Timothy Hobbs entered a guilty plea on behalf of the firm but a second charge naming him was dropped. Sentencing was due in September 2004.
Raji Khanum
Raji was
found lying dead on the floor by her husband at home. Cosimo Randino
Cosimo, a
sufferer from Alzheimer's Disease, was found choked to death on vomit on
27 December 2002. A rubber glove and sponge were found in his stomach.
Andrew
Thayne, a lorry driver for a warehousing company, died after being crushed
by a tractor at the factory. At the time he was trying
to fix a tractor unit onto a trailer. He had only just been taken on as
a full time driver, Shane Neil
Shane, an
employees of Wellwod Roofing Services, was killed when a forklift truck
he was driving overturned and crushed him at a BRE testing facility in
Shortstown, Bedford.
David Capon
David farmed at Broughton End Farm, near Lidlington, Bedfordshire. He died after falling into a silo as grain was loaded into lorries. The inquest was held at Bedfordshire and Luton Coroner's Court on 30 November 2004. David, the inquest heard, was unloading grain into a silo with one of his employees and a delivery driver when he climbed up into one of the silos and walked on to the grain to check its quality. Edward Holden, one of David's employees, stayed at the bottom of the silo to make sure the grain was flowing out properly. He said, 'He went up to the top and that was the last I saw of him. I think he may have been looking for anything that might have been in the wheat, like rat droppings or even a live mouse.' Mr Holden told the inquest that the grain suddenly stopped flowing so he went to investigate and found David buried in the grain with one Wellington boot showing. Mr Holden said he then switched the machinery off and called the emergency services. Paramedics pronounced David dead at the scene. His body was set free by firefighters at 12.30pm – almost four hours after the accident. Health and Safety Executive inspector David Head said it appeared that David had walked across the grain while it was being unloaded, thinking it was moving more slowly than it actually was. He said the fact that he was wearing Wellington boots may have made it harder for him to get out as the grain would have got inside them, causing a drag effect. The grain was clean and dry and this may also have had an effect on David's ability to escape. He said the farmer must have thought it was safe to walk across the grain in the first place but added that he would not recommend anyone else does it. David had an artificial hip but had no problems with mobility. An examination during the post mortem showed no sign of dislocation so it is unlikely that would have caused him to fall in. He suffered multiple rib injuries, consistent with being buried under several tons of grain. But there was no evidence of natural illness that may have caused him to collapse or fall unconscious. The cause of death was given as asphyxia due to compression injury to the chest. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.
Julie Frances Ashby
Julie died instantly when she was hit by a tipper truck while crossing Limbury Road, Luton with her son and his friend. Her son suffered multiple injuries and was treated in hospital and his friend suffered minor injuries. The dog they were walking died in the collision. The inquest was to be held at Bedfordshire and Luton Coroner's court.
Paul Massam
Paul died after being struck by a bulldozer while working capping a landfill site. The site was owned By Waste Recycling Group Ltd and the principal contractor was Aspect Environment Ltd. The inquest was held at Bedfordshire and Luton Coroner's Court on 20 September 2006 when a verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.
Gordon Leishman
Gordon Leishman suffered a heart attack after falling from scaffolding at Whipsnade Zoo, near Dunstable. He was replacing a glass pane in the lion enclosure when the incident happened. Gordon was able to talk and breathe unaided after the fall, but subsequently needed resuscitation and died in hospital. The inquest was held at Bedfordshire and Luton Coroner's Court on 11 October 2007 when a Narrative verdict was returned: '(Gordon) died accidentally as a result of fall from scaffolding which did not have the required safety rail.' The court heard that Gordon might have touched a live electric cable which caused him to suffer the fatal fall. Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Inspector Roxanne Barker said, 'There is no evidence that Mr Leishman came into contact with the hot wire, although it came six to eight inches above his head height. There is a possibility he could have touched it.'
Jonathan Henry
Pc Jon Henry received fatal stab wounds after responding to reports of an attack on two window cleaners in Luton town centre. Ikechukwu Tennyson Obih was charged with Jon's murder and two counts of the attempted murder of window cleaners Steven Chamberlain and David Knight and with aggravated burglary. Any inquest would be held at Bedfordshire and Luton Coroner's Court. In March 2008 it was announced that Obih had had his case adjourned for seven months so his mental state could be assessed by a psychiatric professor.
Stephen Huntley
Stephen, who worked for Launton-based firm Gutter Maintenance, was loading items on to the roof of his van when he fell, suffering traumatic head injuries. Stephen died in hospital the next day when doctors turned off his life-support machine. The inquest is to be held at Bedfordshire and Luton Coroner's Court on a date yet to be set.
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