Local News · Wiltshire-wide
Inquest concludes into death of apprentice tree surgeon near Swindon
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
An inquest has determined that a 18-year-old apprentice tree surgeon died from accidental crush injuries while working at a National Trust woodland in Eaton Hastings.
An inquest at Oxfordshire Coroner's Court has concluded that the death of 18-year-old Jonty Parkinson was accidental. Mr Parkinson, an apprentice tree surgeon from Cirencester, died on 6 September 2024 after being crushed by a tree while working in a National Trust woodland in Eaton Hastings, near Faringdon.
A jury heard evidence over four days regarding the circumstances of the incident. It was established that Mr Parkinson and a colleague were attempting to fell a tree approximately 12 metres in height and one metre in diameter. During the operation, the tree fell in an unintended direction, trapping the teenager beneath it. Emergency services attended the scene, but Mr Parkinson was pronounced dead, with a medical cause of death recorded as a crush injury to the abdomen.
The jury identified several contributing factors during their deliberations. Evidence presented at the inquest suggested that the tree was affected by a fungus known as shaggy bracket, a condition the landowner was aware of but which had not been communicated to the tree surgeons. Furthermore, although rot was identified by the workers during the felling process, the operation was not halted.
Jurors noted that the pair were not adequately trained for the specific method employed to fell the large tree. The felling procedure included a face cut that exceeded industry guidance, and the use of ropes attached to a wood chipper to pull the tree down was identified as an informal practice rather than a standard operating procedure.
The inquest also highlighted significant lapses in safety management. A risk assessment conducted prior to the work had assumed the tree would be dismantled, but this plan was altered on the day without a formal re-assessment. Additionally, the workers' communication headset was faulty, and there was no mobile phone signal on-site to escalate safety concerns. The court heard that on-site supervision roles were poorly defined and failed to account for Mr Parkinson's status as an apprentice.
Senior coroner Darren Salter, who oversaw the proceedings, declined to issue a prevention of future deaths report. He stated that while there is no shortage of regulations, the incident underscored the necessity for those regulations to be properly applied in practice. Following investigations by Thames Valley Police, which resulted in no criminal prosecutions, the Health and Safety Executive is continuing its own inquiries into the incident.
Source: Swindon Advertiser - Lifestyle · View original