Inquest told of frantic battle to free tragic Argos lorry driver in Oswestry

Rodney Paragreen said he had heard frantic shouts for help being made by William Ernest Barker from inside the lorry. Mr Barker was driving to make a delivery to the Argos store in Smithfield Street in Oswestry.

Mr Paragreen told an inquest Mr Barker was pinned by a barrier used to prevent lorries from entering the Smithfield Street car park which had broken free. Mr Barker couldn't be freed despite Mr Paragreen's best efforts.

Mr Barker died at the scene on May 27 last year and an inquest was opened at Shrewsbury Town FC's Greenhous Meadow yesterday.

Mr Paragreen was making a delivery to M&S at 6.45am and was unloading his lorry when the accident occurred.

He said: "I could see the driver leaning forward over the steering wheel. He seemed to be in considerable pain."

He said he could see the barrier had broken free of where it had been secured and had entered the cab.

"The driver's seat was twisted forwards and facing out of the window," he said.

"The movement had caused the driver to be pinned." He tried to free Mr Barker but the barrier was firmly wedged in place.

He added: "His face was turning blue and he was seriously struggling for breath.

"I went to the passenger side and got into the cab. It was obvious the driver was pinned in under a great deal of force and no matter what I did I couldn't release the seat or steering wheel to release him."

As paramedics arrived at the scene, Mr Paragreen said he suggested using his lorry to push the Argos lorry sideways in an effort to free Mr Barker.

But paramedics told him Mr Barker had died and there was nothing else he could do.

Shropshire coroner Mr John Ellery praised Mr Paragreen's efforts.

"Can I commend you for the actions you took and what you tried to do," he said.

A post mortem revealed that Mr Barker, 68, from Rochdale in Lancashire, died of traumatic asphyxiation.

The inquest also head the barrier that pinned Mr Baker between his steering wheel and his seat had been damaged a week before the accident.

Staff at Oswestry's Argos store, who were responsible for opening and closing the barrier for lorries to make deliveries, said they had noticed the barrier was dropping by up to four inches.

Giving evidence at the first day of the inquest into Mrl Barker's death on May 27 last year, David Wynne, delivery assistant at Argos, said damage to the gate had meant it would not stay open by itself and had to be secured with a chain when open.

He said: "On May 17 there were no problems when I opened it. They opened smoothly and stayed open, but when I came to open the barrier on May 19 the barriers would not part and I had to give them a really good push.

"I noticed the barrier on the M&S side had fallen two inches. I thought someone must have hit it. It wouldn't stay back against the wall and swung back unexpectedly when I opened it.

"There was a metal chain on the wall so I used that from that date to hold the barrier back and prevent it swinging into the road. Before then it would have gone flush with the wall, but with the chain it was level with the kerb, about 12 inches from the wall.

"On May 26 it was still doing by two inches but on May 27 it dropped another two inches."

In opening the inquest for the jury, Shropshire coroner John Ellery said Mr Barker's lorry had made contact with the barrier as it was exiting the car park.

He said: "It appears that Mr Barker's driver's side and wing mirror made contact with the end of the barrier and having made contact the forward movement of the lorry caused the barrier to enter the cab."

The hearing was told that Mr Baker was struck from behind by the barrier and he was pinned to the wheel.

The jury was shown pictures of the scene taken by PC Ian Edwards including a photograph of Mr Barker inside the cab.

PC Edwards said: "You can see Mr Barker trapped between his seat and the steering wheel. In the back of the seat you can see a rusty metal plate. That is connected to the barrier arm. The seat has been deformed, twisted and pushed forward."

Staff from both Argos and M&S, who were also taking a delivery at the time of the accident, about 6.45am, rushed to help Mr Barker but were unable to free him.

Geoffrey Cartwright, operations assistant at M&S, said he heard a loud bang and initially thought his delivery driver, Rodney Paragreen, had dropped something.

"I heard a bang followed by a scream and thought that something had fallen on our driver," he said. "Then I looked and I could see the Argos lorry and the driver slumped over the wheel.

"The engine was still running and the driver was semi conscious and making noises like he was struggling to breathe. I could see the metal going through the back of the seat and realised this was the barrier."

Mr Cartwright called 999 while one of his colleagues and Mr Paragreen unsuccessfully tried to remove the metal bar from the cab.

"I realised he was dying in front of us," he said. "It became apparent we weren't going to be able to move the barrier.

"Two paramedics arrived and attached pads to the driver's chest but pronounced him dead but long after that.

"There was nothing else we could have done."

The inquest was due to conclude today.