Everton fan who tragically died working on new stadium was crushed by machine, inquest hears
An engineer who died working on the new Everton stadium suffered severe head injuries after he was crushed by a piece of machinery, an inquest has heard.
Michael Jones was working as a ventilation engineer on the stadium in Liverpool on 14 August when he was caught between machinery and a beam, an inquest into his death was told.
Michael had been wearing a hard hat at the time of the incident, which was also damaged. He was rushed to hospital where tragically he was pronounced dead.
In a statement on the Everton website, his sister, Gemma Leary, paid tribute to him, saying: “Michael was the baby, a boy after three daughters.
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"He was adored by everyone and he loved spending time with his dad watching Everton.”
His family also paid tribute to him, saying: “He was a lifelong Blue who was so happy to be working on the new stadium.
“We want to thank the NHS staff and work colleagues who did their best for Michael. He will be missed beyond words.”
Senior Coroner Andrew Rebello said he is now waiting for the results of a routine toxicology report, though there is no reason to suspect there were 'any substances in Mr Jones at the time of the incident'.
He told the court: “Michael had been operating a machine commonly known as a scissor ladder.
“He was caught between the beam above him and the machine.”
He continued: “A colleague noticed Michael’s lift had stopped. He climbed on to Michael’s lift and moved it forward. This released Michael and this revealed severe head injuries.
“He was lifted to the ground and provided with first aid until an ambulance arrived, when he was transported to hospital where tragically he was certified as having died.”
The senior coroner added: “This will be a very complex and technical investigation which will take some time.”
His family did not attend the inquest hearing. The hearing lasted ten minutes in total.
The coroner said that both Mr Jones' employer Mersey Vent Ltd and the contractor on the stadium Laing O'Rourke will be recognised in the inquest as interested persons.
The inquest has been adjourned until 29 February 2024 to allow for the investigation to be carried out.
Football fans paid tribute to Michael before Everton's home game against Wolves on Saturday. A round of applause was held before the match began in his memory.
Kit Roberts