A coroner has warned farmers to take better precautions when working at heights after an accident cost the life of a popular producer.
Owen Bryn Edwards, 70, was repairing an asbestos roof of an outbuilding when he fell to his death on the family farm, Tyddyn ‘Ronnen, Llanuwchllyn, near Bala, north Wales.
Mr Edwards was taken to hospital in November last year where he was pronounced dead.
At an inquest at Caernarfon into Mr Edwards’ death recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones said Mr Edwards had attempted to repair the roof and no one saw him fall.
“For some reason he fell from that roof on to a hard concrete area,” the coroner said.
“He struck his head on the concrete and suffered catastrophic injuries and died the following day.”
Mr Pritchard said he seemed to deal with two or three cases every year which showed “although one would expect this would be a situation more common with builders, it’s actually more common with farmers.”
He added: “This seems to be a not unusual accident where farmers are concerned.”
Mr Pritchard described Mr Edwards’ death as a “classic accident” and said the tragedy should serve as a reminder to other farmers and contractors to take extra care when working from height.
