A jury inquest into the death of Niton man Paul Whitehouse – who was fatally crushed by a falling tree back in 2020 – concluded that the 42-year-old died by misadventure.
The inquest into the death of Paul Whitehouse, of The Glen in Niton, was first opened on 24th January 2020 following his death 4 days prior on 20th January.
On the day of Mr Whitehouse’s death, he and a local contractor were working at a woodland owned by Whitehouse’s parents at Niton Undercliff, where several trees needed topping. Paul, a former forester, was stationed at the bottom of the tree and the contractor at the top.
However, just seconds later, tragedy struck when he was hit and crushed by a falling section of timber.
The Isle of Wight Ambulance Service was quickly called and a land ambulance was dispatched, but the severity of the incident prompted the scrambling of the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) from its Thruxton base.
Having assessed Paul at the scene, a plan was formulated to take him to hospital via helicopter, however, this proved impossible when the door of the air ambulance fell off its rails, as exclusively revealed by Island Echo at the time.
Sadly, despite the best efforts of all those who treated him, Mr Whitehouse died on his way to St Mary’s Hospital. The official cause of death has been given as chest injuries.
The Health and Safety Executive promptly started an investigation into Shane Geary of SG Garden & Tree Services, but he was cleared of any wrongdoing in October 2020.
Jurors heard on the first day of last month’s 5-day jury inquest how, in October 2012, Paul Whitehouse was involved in a road traffic collision which left him with serious and life-changing injuries which affected his energy, gait, balance and personality. The then 34-year-old was unable to go back to work after the accident, having to call time on his professional career as a construction worker and forester – a career he greatly enjoyed.
Throughout the inquest, the first of its kind to take place on the Isle of Wight in some time, members of the jury heard from numerous interested parties including the family of the the deceased, specialist medical professionals, Police and a representative from Babcock International – who own the helicopter leased by HIOWAA.
Home Office registered Forensic Pathologist Dr Amanda Jeffery, explained the severity of the injuries sustained by Mr Whitehouse which included several rib fractures and tears to the liver.
At the time of the incident, Mr Whitehouse was not wearing a hard hat, but Dr Jeffery said that the outcome wouldn’t have changed had he been wearing one.
Dr Jeffery explained how there was nothing to suggest that the injuries sustained during the road traffic collision in 2012 were in any way a factor in how Mr Whitehouse came about his death on 20th January 2020, before concluding that the chances of anyone with such injuries surviving the accident were ‘very low’.
The inquest heard how Mr Whitehouse’s father had previously called the pair a ‘perfect team’ whose work was ‘professional.’
Following the 5 day jury inquest that ended on Friday 28th February, it was concluded that Mr Whitehouse died by misadventure.
