A grandfather was killed at work when he became trapped in machinery, an inquest heard.

Dave Dow, 63, of Cedar Grove, Burnham, had popped his head into the back of the trailer to speak to a colleague when the hydraulic tailgate closed onto his neck.

Paramedics attempted to resuscitate Mr Dow but he died at the scene at Dengie Crops, in Hall Road, Asheldham, in May last year.

A post-mortem examination found he died from a traumatic neck injury including the transection of the cervical spinal cord.

Dengie Crops workers Les Abbott and Paul Stinson had three more bolts left to fix the tailgate to a Richard Western trailer, a jury at Chelmsford Coroners Court on Thursday.

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