Cwmcarn man crushed by car when jack failed - coroner (From South Wales Argus)

Cwmcarn man crushed by car when jack failed - Gwent coroner

1:47pm Sunday 27th January 2013 in Gwent news By Andy Rutherford

PEOPLE working under a jacked-up car must ensure the vehicle is sufficiently supported by more than one piece of equipment, Gwent's coroner has warned.

David Bowen spoke out after recording a verdict of accidental death on a 55-year-old Cwmcarn man, crushed after a car fell on top of him while he was repairing it.

On July 28 last year, Russell Rowland made the short trip to his daughter's home in Cross Keys to work on his car prior to its being sold.

His partner Joyce Mahoney told Mr Bowen at an inquest into Mr Rowland's death that she then had a telephone call concerning an incident involving Mr Rowland and a car.

A statement from Andrew Wiliams, read out at the hearing, said he was returning home from shopping with his partner and saw a neighbour standing in the road who told him someone was trapped under a car.

Mr Williams then found Mr Rowland trapped under the car.

An ambulance came and he had to use his own jack to lift the vehicle off, as the jack that Mr Rowland had been using had fallen over.

A post mortem examination confirmed that Mr Rowland died as a result of asphyxia, due to the pressure of the vehicle on his chest.

"This tragic death should serve as a warning to anyone working on a motor car, that they must ensure it is adequately supported," said Mr Bowen.

"It is not safe to rely on one source of support. I am satisfied that he (Mr Rowland) would never have anticipated or appreciated the dangers."