Engineer's death was an accident (From Barry And District News)

Engineer's death was an accident

A JURY returned a verdict of accidental death at the inquest into the death of civil engineer at a Barry building site.

Vernon Hier, 40, was crushed by the bucket of a digger, while working at the Palmerston Road site on July 28, 2004.

Cardiff Coroner's Court heard how Mr Hier, of Trelewis, was pinned between the bucket and the tracks of the vehicle during a routine safety check at the George Wimpey site, while working for Hortray Builders Ltd.

The driver of the digger only realised the bucket had crushed Mr Hier when he heard a groan, the inquest heard.

James Lynch was routinely shaking his one-tonne digger bucket to make sure it was secure for the night, when it fell.

Mr Lynch heard Mr Hier moan, and saw him trapped.

He moved the bucket and site workers gave first aid but the engineer was later pronounced dead at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

Mr Lynch, of Grangetown, a machinery operator for 36 years, told the inquest: "I shook the bucket, saw it fall then could hear a groan. I moved the bucket and jumped out and said'Vernon are you okay?'

"He said'I'm fine' but then fell back."

Mr Lynch said he did not know why Mr Hier, who was a trained driver, had walked between the digger and the bucket instead of taking the safer route around the back of the digger.

He said: "He came from my right in the blind spot. What made him walk there I will never know."

Mr Lynch told the court it was routine to shake the bucket to check it was locked, and he was used to it falling off.