Edenbridge employee's death was "tragic" accident

AN EXPERIENCED factory worker employed at an Edenbridge firm became trapped during a routine operation leading to his "absolutely tragic" death, an inquest heard.

Alan Ernest Arthur Dawson suffered head injuries while he was unloading a pack of timber at AW Champion in Fircroft Way.

The grandfather-of-four, from East Grinstead, died following the incident on January 30, 2007, aged 63.

Deputy assistant coroner Christopher Sutton-Mattocks recorded a verdict of accidental death at Tunbridge Wells former Magistrates' Court on Friday, after the jury returned a unanimous decision.

Mr Sutton-Mattocks said Mr Dawson had been unloading the forklift truck driven by his colleague, Jason Clarke, with whom he had worked for nearly two decades.

He said: "They had unloaded between two and three thousand packs of timber during their time together."

Speaking at the inquest, Mr Clarke said he reversed the vehicle into an alleyway, as he would have done many times before and he felt some resistance.

"Sometimes things catch and I assumed it was something like that," he said. "I pulled the pack of wood back in and realised it was Alan. I thought he was still where he was when I reversed down.

"He was in a position that he would not normally be in during unloading."

"I switched off the engine immediately," he said. "I put my arms around him to support him. I shouted for help and for an ambulance."

The inquest heard that Mr Dawson died following head injuries.

None of the employees giving evidence at the inquest could see why Mr Dawson and Mr Clarke should not have been doing the unloading.

Colin Jones, a side loader driver, said he had never seen anyone become trapped in an area like that before.

Health and safety inspector Miles Francis added: "People do things that are unexpected. After all, we are all human. Clearly the results of this accident are absolutely tragic.

"There is always something that can be done to prevent an accident happening. It's just getting the balance between the level of prevention and allowing that job to be done."

Mr Dawson was a keen member of his local football, cricket and darts teams and an active supporter of 1st East Grinstead Scout Group.

He is survived by his wife Jennifer, sons Nickolas and Stephen, daughters-in-law Tracey and Sue and grandchildren Leah, Abigail, Zack and Megan.