A ROOFER who suffered multiple injuries in a fatal fall died as a result of an accident after carrying out work without a safety net, an inquest has ruled.

Jonathan Moore, 34, from Canvey, was working on shed 38A at the Port of Tilbury when he stepped through a skylight and fell 35ft.

Mr Moore, who was working for R4 Industrial Roofing, which is based on Canvey, died from fatal head and leg injuries on February 25.

Despite attempts to save him Mr Moore died at the scene on 25 February.

The jury had heard he had been working with a friend, Jason Drake, replacing skylights at the site.

The inquest had heard Mr Moore and Mr Drake had gained access to the roof via an unplanned route because forklift trucks were parked at the proposed access point.

Part of the roof had safety netting in place but not the area which Mr Moore fell through, the court was told.

In a statement, read to the coroner, Caroline Beasley-Murray by Kirsty Roberts, coroners officer, said: “As I was walking along the roof, I heard a snapping noise and I saw Jonathon’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.

He said: “I gave him two breathes and continuing 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.”

Before work was to be carried out, a health and safety check was supposed to be undertaken to ensure nets were put in place.

However, Neil Stroud, a health and safety officer for the Port of Tilbury confirmed to the court that full checks had not been completed before the men begun work on the roof.

Netting was fitted on certain areas of the right-hand side of the roof, the left-hand side contained no netting at all.

A total of 11 lights on both sides were replaced with no safety netting beneath.

Mr Stroud said: “Until certification is given, no one should be allowed on the roof until that area is declared safe. I would have expected all of these inspections to have taken place before work were to take place.”

Despite no certification being given, Mr Drake and Mr Moore were allowed access to the roof using a scissor lift to carry out the works.

The Health and Safety Executive have confirmed to the Echo their investigation into any potential breaches is still ongoing.