Warning call by safety inspector
The death of a 22-month-old boy in a farmyard tragedy could have been avoided.
That was the view of Norfolk Coroner William Armstrong at the inquest into the death of Edward Criddle.
The toddler was crushed when a worker drove over him as he played at his grandparents’ farm in Kenninghall.
Although Mr Armstrong expressed sympathy to the youngster’s parents, he agreed with a health and safety inspector’s verdict that Edward should not have been unsupervised as his father worked at Fersfield Lodge Farm.
The coroner said: “Farmyards are places of work, and potentially dangerous. They’re not playgrounds, or places of leisure. Edward should have been under direct and constant supervision.” Such a conclusion was “painful” to reach, he added.
Edward’s father, Richard, of the adjoining Wash Farm, told of the impact the death on November 22, 2012, had had on him, the toddler’s mother, Lucy, and Edward’s brother, who is also called Richard. A statement said: “The events of that day have left us devastated. Edward was a bright and happy little boy who had his whole life ahead of him. Lucy, Richard and I miss him deeply. He will always be part of our lives.”
Edward had been playing with his brother in the cattle shed at about 4pm while Mr Criddle worked nearby. Farm worker Kelvin Sutton - known to the boys as ‘Uncle Jacko’ - pulled up and parked in front of the doors. After speaking with Mr Criddle, long-serving farm employee Mr Sutton reversed his van from the doors and then pulled forward in a bid to let the boys out.
The police could not determine if Edward was knocked over by the van, or if he slipped. He died from serious head injuries. Mr Armstrong said Mr Sutton was not to blame.
A jury recorded a verdict of accidental death.
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Monday 20 May 2013
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