Failure to wear belt led to dumper death

A GRANDFATHER who died after a dumper truck overturned in Lees might have been saved if he had been wearing a seatbelt, an inquest has heard.

Alphonsus Healy (62), known as Frank, suffered head injuries in the accident in Athens Way on August 1, 2006.

He underwent brain surgery and later died of bronchial pneumonia, brought on by immobilisation, at the Royal Oldham Hospital on December 23.

A jury heard yesterday that Mr Healy, of Evesham Walk, Middleton, was working for Warrington company Core Utility Solutions as part of a team excavating the footpath.

The dumper truck was seen to veer to the left and hit a lamp-post as he reversed it down a grass bank. It could not move and Mr Healy lifted the vehicle’s skip on the slope.

Mini-digger driver Lee Guyatt, from Reddish, described how the vehicle fell over, and said: “As it began to fall to the right Frank tried to climb up it, so to speak.

“As it landed on its side it just seemed to push him through the air.”

An investigation was carried out for the Health and Safety Executive by John Moutrie, who concluded that the dumper overturned on the slope because its skip was raised.

He said: “I do not think the seatbelt was being worn. Had it been worn the evidence is that the injuries would have been substantially reduced.”

Mr Healy was originally from the Republic of Ireland and had a partner, Kathleen, sons, David and Paul, and four grandchildren.

Recording a verdict of misadventure, the jury said it was probable Mr Healy had not been wearing a seatbelt which may have added to the seriousness of his accident.

After the inquest, the brothers described their father as a happy-go-lucky, popular guy with lots of mates who loved horse racing and playing snooker.

Paul said: “He made friends just like that. He could always speak to someone on a common ground. We all miss him, we always will.”

They had been hoping for a verdict of accidental death, but David said: “We are glad it is over. It has been two years.”