Shropshire mechanic killed when a car fell on him, inquest told

Father-of-five Nigel Pugh was working underneath a vehicle on land in Burleydam Road, Ightfield, near Whitchurch, on November 27 last year when the axles gave way.

The inquest on Mr Pugh, who was 53, was held at Shirehall in Shrewsbury yesterday.

Coroner for the Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin area, Mr John Ellery, ruled it was an accidental death.

He said Mr Pugh, of Chapel Crescent in Darliston, near Whitchurch, had died as a result of crushed chest injuries.

One of the coroner's officers said friends of Mr Pugh – Andrew Whyte and Nick Davies – had arrived at the property to pick him up at about 4.30pm.

She said: "They sat waiting in the vehicle, but Andrew Whyte then approached the large wooden gates and saw the gates were closed, but not on the latch. He thought he might have left already.

"There was no light and no noise coming from the area.

"He passed the parked cars and made his way down to the carport. He could see tools left out and a car that was on a slight angle."

The officer said Mr Whyte then found Mr Pugh had been trapped under the vehicle and ran outside to get Mr Davies.

The pair called an ambulance, used a jack to raise the car, pulled Mr Pugh out from underneath and found there was blood around his mouth. They performed CPR until the ambulance arrived.

The coroner's officer told the hearing: "This appears to be a tragic accident.

"He was working under a vehicle when the axle support had become insecure and gave way which caused the vehicle to fall onto him.

"Nobody else was involved and it is not suspicious."

Mr Pugh had begun working on cars as a favour for people, but a friend Paul Dawson had allowed him to use land next to his home and he had created a carport and had begun work as a self-employed mechanic.

Mr Dawson had not seen Mr Pugh that day, but thought he had heard banging as he worked on vehicles, which was normal.

Mr Pugh raised his five children on his own after a relationship broke down about eight years ago.

He leaves behind four daughters, Becky, Nicky, Sandra and Katie and son Ken and had a strong relationship with his older brother, Christopher.

The family described him as someone who "put everyone else first" and a "strong family man".

Mr Pugh grew up in Agden in Cheshire before moving to Whitchurch and Prees. He had attended Malpas Primary School before moving on to Bishop Heber Secondary School.