Police probe death of Stoke-on-Trent lorry driver, 50, at work

Police are continuing to investigate the death of a Stoke-on-Trent lorry driver at work. Staffordshire Police[1] are leading the investigation alongside the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the tragedy at Bella Access, in Fenton[2].

Emergency services had been called to the Galveston Grove business on August 25. They discovered Lee Swingewood, from Smallthorne[3], dead at the scene.

Now an inquest has been opened and adjourned into the 50-year-old's death. His funeral has been held at Carmountside Crematorium.

North Staffordshire area coroner Emma Serrano told the inquest opening: "This is the opening of the inquest touching the death of Lee Terence Swingewood. The place of death was Bella Access, in Galveston Grove, Fenton.

"Mr Swingewood was a lorry driver. A post-mortem examination has been carried out and the medical cause of death has been given as multiple chest injuries. I hereby open and adjourn this inquest ahead of a full hearing to be held at a later date."

Bella Access has declined to comment following Lee's death.

Staffordshire Police, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service[4] and West Midlands Ambulance Service[5] were called to the scene.

Paramedics had been called to the site at 5.40am on August 25.

An ambulance service spokesman said: "We were called to reports of a patient who had suffered crush injuries at an industrial premises on Galveston Grove. An ambulance arrived five minutes after the call and was backed up by a paramedic officer. On arrival, ambulance staff found a man who had suffered very serious injuries. Sadly, it was immediately obvious that nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene."

A police spokesman said: "We were called to an industrial premises on Galveston Grove, in Fenton, at 5.48am on Friday 25 August following reports of an industrial accident. Officers went to the scene alongside paramedics from West Midlands Ambulance Service and colleagues from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service. Sadly, a 50-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His family continue to be supported by specially-trained officers. Officers are investigating the circumstances around the death alongside the Health and Safety Executive."

A HSE spokesman added: “We are jointly investigating this incident alongside Staffordshire Police.”

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References

  1. ^ Staffordshire Police (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
  2. ^ Fenton (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
  3. ^ Smallthorne (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
  4. ^ Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
  5. ^ West Midlands Ambulance Service (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
  6. ^ Sign up for email alerts from StokeonTrentLive direct to your inbox here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)

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