Farmer's son grain bin death devastates family
A couple were left totally devastated by the death of their 18-year-old son in a grain bin on their family farm in Shropshire, an inquest heard.
Hugh Jones only ever wanted to be a farmer and his parents' arable business was his only motivation in life, yesterday's hearing was told. Mr Jones, whose parents Robert and Sally run Larden Grange Farm in Brockton, near Much Wenlock, was found dead in a grain bin at nearby Brockton Farm.
Mr Jones was found dead on December 21 last year. His parents, who also own Brockton Farm, were out at the time and nobody witnessed the tragedy, the jury inquest was told.
Dr Nicholas Green, a consultant pathologist at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, said Mr Jones died from asphyxiation.
The inquest heard Mr Jones's family believed he had suffered some sort of accident, become unconscious and fallen into the bin.
Mr and Mrs Jones, who also have a daughter, Jessica, 24, were excused attendance at the inquest but Mrs Jones said in a statement read to the jury that her son had just finished his A-levels at Wrekin College, Wellington. She said he wanted to take a gap year in Australia to farm and travel, and planned to take a three-year agriculturual course at Harper Adams University College in Edgmond on his return.
She added: "Farming was in his blood and all he wanted to do. His only motivation in life was the farm and to work the land."
Mrs Jones said it was not until after midnight on the day in question that she learnt her son was dead and she was left 'totally devastated'.
Mr Jones said in a statement read out to the inquest: "Hugh was a very fit, bright and capable young man."
He said his wife particularly had been unable to do anything since the tragedy and added: "Devastation is not the word. Our lives have been ruined."
The hearing continues.
