Grain bin death was accidental rules jury
An inquest jury has returned a verdict of accidental death on an 18-year-old gap year student whose body was found in giant grain bin on his family's farm near Much Wenlock.
Hugh Edward Percy Jones was found dead under piles of grain in the bin at Brockton Farm, Brockton, on December 21 last year. The inquest in Bridgnorth heard Mr Jones died from asphyxiation.
He lived at nearby Larden Grange Farm with his parents, who also owned the Brockton business.
The jury also concluded in its verdict that Mr Jones died at an unknown time after 1.45pm and had entered the bin alive, but it was unknown whether he was conscious or unconscious at the time of his death.
Mr Jones' parents, Robert and Sally, were excused attendance at the inquest by coroner John Ellery, but the court heard they believed their son was unconscious when he fell in and that his death was a "tragic, freak accident".
The jury heard the couple had been devastated by their only son's death, with Mr Jones saying in a statement that their lives had been ruined.
The inquest was told Mr Jones finished his A-levels at Wrekin College in Wellington in June 2011 and had been working on the family farm to earn money to help pay for a three-year agricultural course he intended to take at Harper Adams University College.
He had also been trying to save for a gap year in which he intended to go and farm in Australia and then travel.
The court heard Mr Jones' parents, who also have a 24-year-old daughter, Jessica, returned home at about 5pm on the day and were concerned when they could not find him.
Emergency services eventually found Mr Jones' body some hours later buried at the base of one of the bins.
The court heard the bins had been emptied and closed down since the tragedy.
The Health and Safety Executive is continuing to investigate the accident.
