Driver died after falling from tanker

From the archive, first published Wednesday 26th Oct 2005.

A NORTHWICH HGV driver who fell from the roof of a tanker after releasing the safety rail died in 'tragically simple circumstances', an inquest has heard.

The jury at Warrington Town Hall on Thursday Weaverham-born John Anthony Gibbs, 58, of Huntersfield, had worked for PE Blake and Son Ltd haulage and tanker hire company in Little Leigh for 35 years when the accident occurred on June 12 last year.

John's wife Joan said he left home early to collect a Manchester load but returned to his Heath Lane workplace when the job was cancelled to replace lid seals on the roof of a tanker.

When foreman drover Brian Lewis saw John working atop the wagon he noticed the safety handrail lowered.

He said: "The procedure is to use it once you are on top but it was lowered, which is not in accordance with company proceedings."

But HGV driver Darren Chantler confirmed John, who had previously suffered from vertigo, had been using the rail just 20 minutes before he fell.

He added: "He banged his elbow and he shouted and swore at the raised handrail then threw it down.

"Later I heard a noise and looked up to see John falling towards me. I put my hands up to try to catch him but did not succeed."

John, who temporarily regained consciousness, died at Warrington General Hospital six days later.

HM health and safety inspector John McGrellis, who confirmed the rail was in a good state of repair, said John's stance with one foot on the serrated catwalk platform and the other on the skin of the tanker may have contributed to the fall.

He added: "Even if the handrail was up it might not have prevented it because of Mr Gibbs' position.

"Falls from tankers are not the most frequent but 10 per cent of these do result in fatalities."

The jury unanimously agreed with the post mortem examination findings and returned a verdict that John's death was due to sustaining a head injury as a result of an accident.

Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg said: "The circumstances of what happened are tragically simple."

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