Aldwick father doed fixing car

A father was crushed to death while trying to fix his daughter's car.

An inquest was told how Tim Hardcastle, 61, was working under the vehicle when the jack gave way and the car fell on him.

The HGV driver died metres away from his home in Valentines Gardens, Aldwick, after he was crushed by the car.

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The 61-year-old had worked for the AA and had knowledge of fixing cars, an inquest at Arundel Town Hall was told.

His wife Cathleen realised something was wrong only when an ambulance and fire engine pulled up outside the house in Valentines Gardens on May 15.

The emergency services had been called after a dog walker saw Mr Hardcastle's trapped body.

West Sussex coroner's officer Helen Lawrence told the court: "He had to grind some bolts off the car to put a new part on.

"His wife saw him at the home at around midday for lunch.

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"He returned to the car and she could hear the sound of grinding.

"She remembers the grinding noise stopping at around 1.30pm.

"Next, she saw a woman with a dog, she was there for a while as if she was looking for someone."

A statement from Mrs Hardcastle, described how she had not been worried when the ambulance arrived outside their home because there was a doctor's surgery nearby.

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The statement, said that after a fire engine arrived she became concerned and went outside to be told her husband had been crushed by the car.

Mr Hardcastle suffered severe head, neck and chest injuries.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

West Sussex Coroner Penelope Schofield said it appeared the car was resting on the deceased and the assumption was that the car jack had collapsed.

She recorded a verdict of accidental death.

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