A MAN saw his friend fall through the roof of a warehouse to his death, an inquest heard.

Jonathan Moore, 34, from Canvey, died from fatal head and leg injuries after falling through a roof while replacing 21 lights of a timber shed at the Port of Tilbury.

Jason Drake took to the stand at Chelmsford Coroners Court yesterday to recall the fatal incident where Mr Moore dropped almost 11 metres on February 25 this year.

He said: “As I was walking along the roof, I heard a snapping noise and I saw Jonathan’s head and shoulders drop through the roof.

“He must have fallen through one of the lights.

“They’re covered in moss and the light off the sun could have made him think he was walking onto a piece of the roof.”

Mr Drake dialled 999 and began to give Mr Moore chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth.

He said: “I gave him two breathes and continued pumping on his chest. I went to give another two breathes but his mouth was full of blood.

"An ambulance and police arrived very quickly and took over from me.”

Mr Moore and Mr Drake were working for R4 Industrial Roofing, based on Canvey, when the incident took place.

The pair were undertaking the roof repairs as sub-contractors of M and J Spindley Ltd. Mr Moore was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

His post mortem carried out at Basildon Hospital stated he died of “multiple injuries”.

Caroline Beasley-Murray, Senior Essex Coroner added: “The toxicology report found there to be no alcohol and other substances in Mr Moore’s system at the time the work was carried out.”

Netting was supposed to be installed beneath the roof before work started, however, Neil Stroud, health and safety officer for the port, said that had not happened.

He added: “Until certification is given, no-one should be allowed on the roof until that area is declared safe.”