A FATHER of two killed by a turf-cutting machine may have been trying to repair a fault when he was run over, an inquest has heard.
Lee Woodhouse, 30, suffered multiple injuries after being crushed by a 12-tonne Trebro Auto Stack machine at his place of work, Inturf in Wilberfoss, near Pocklington.
No one saw the accident on September 2011 while he was operating the machine used to cut and roll turf.
An inquest into his death was opened yesterday at Hull Coroner's Court.
Neil Cameron QC, counsel to the inquiry, outlined the events surrounding Mr Woodhouse's death to the jury hearing the case, which is expected to last at least four days.
He said: "Lee was working on his own at Barmby Moor and no one saw the incident which led to his death.
"His body was discovered in a field.
"It appeared Lee had been run over by a machine.
"It appears likely he was carrying out maintenance work when it happened."
Mr Cameron then told the jury there were two facts they should know, which they would have to consider in order to decide whether they were factors in his death.
The machine has interlocks, which make it impossible for it to work unless the weight of the driver is felt in the seat of the cab, but the feature was disabled at the time.
He told the jury Mr Woodhouse also had traces of cannabis in his system.
Dr Alistair MacDonald, the consultant histopathologist who carried out the post mortem, revealed Mr Woodhouse died from multiple injuries and had several abrasions on his back consistent with his body being dragged some distance.
He told the court Mr Woodhouse would have most likely been killed within seconds.
Mr Woodhouse, who had a young son and daughter, was described by his family as a hands-on, loving and kind, caring family man.
His wife Anna said: "Lee was kind, caring and always helped others.
"Lee smoked roll-ups and would occasionally put cannabis in them. He did not use it during the working day.
"He was a decent man who worked hard for his family.
"Lee's cannabis use should not reflect badly on his life as a father.
"His family have been left devastated at our loss.
"We miss him with all of our hearts and I can honestly say when he left, he took a part of all of us with him."
The inquest continues.
