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Farmer died after climbing into grain silo
Inquest jury returns verdict of accidental death
A farmer died when he accidentally fell into a grain silo, an inquest has heard.
David Capon, 71, of Boughton End Farm, Lidlington, was unloading grain into a silo with one of his employees and a delivery driver on April 7 this year.
Mr Capon climbed up into one of the silos and walked on to the grain to check its quality.
An inquest at Ampthill Coroner's Court heard that Edward Holden, an employee of Mr Capon's, stayed at the bottom of the silo to make sure the grain was flowing out properly.
He said: "He went up to the top and that was the last I saw of him. I think he may have been looking for anything that might have been in the wheat, like rat droppings or even a live mouse."
Mr Holden told the inquest that the grain suddenly stopped flowing so he went to investigate.
He said: "There was a wellington sticking out of the bottom of the silo. My first reaction was to think someone had dropped a welly.
"I grabbed hold of it to pull it out and there was something in it. There was a foot in it. I panicked."
Mr Holden said he then switched the machinery off and dialled 999. Paramedics pronounced Mr Capon dead at the scene. His body was set free by firefighters at 12.30pm – almost four hours after the accident.
Health and Safety Executive inspector David Head said it appeared that Mr Capon had walked across the grain while it was being unloaded, thinking it was moving more slowly than it actually was.
He said the fact that he was wearing Wellington boots may have made it harder for him to get out as the grain would have got inside them, causing a drag effect.
The grain was clean and dry and this may also have had an effect on Mr Capon's ability to escape.
He said the farmer must have thought it was safe to walk across the grain in the first place but added that he would not recommend anyone else does it.
Mr Capon had an artificial hip but had no problems with mobility. An examination during the post mortem showed no sign of dislocation so it is unlikely that would have caused him to fall in.
He suffered multiple rib injuries, consistent with being buried under several tons of grain.
But there was no evidence of natural illness that may have caused him to collapse or fall unconscious.
The cause of death was given as asphyxia due to compression injury to the chest.
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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