Builder died on demolition site from blow to head (From Bournemouth Echo)

Builder died on demolition site from blow to head

12:00pm Thursday 27th May 2010 in

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A POOLE builder working with his son on a demolition job died after a lump of barn wall hit him in the head, an inquest heard.

Stephen Ford, 50, of Ringwood Road, Parkstone, died at the scene after being struck by a piece of wall at least 2ft long.

He was working with his son, Jamie, at Dunbury Farm House in Winterborne Houghton, when the tragedy happened in November 2008.

The pair had been working at the site, knocking down a cob-walled barn attached to the main house, for two days.

They were using a pneumatic drill to break down the wall and sort out the flint, brick and cob into separate piles.

Giving evidence at the Dorchester inquest, yesterday, Jamie said: “I was standing on the rubble facing the wall drilling right to left.

“Me and my dad were chatting now and then. A big lump came off, I’ve looked to see where it landed and saw my dad laying on the floor face up on the rubble.”

Witnesses, including neighbours and builders from a nearby construction site, heard cries for help.

They found Jamie in a state of shock cradling his father’s head saying: “Dad, Dad I don’t know what to do.”

Despite CPR carried out by workmen from the neighbouring site, and by paramedics when they arrived 20 minutes later, Mr Ford never regained consciousness and died at the scene.

The cause of death was recorded as head and chest injuries from being hit very hard on the back of the head.

Jamie told the inquest he believed all safety equipment would be on site, but neither man was wearing a hard hat.

The jury inquest continues.