A young engineer died when he became wedged between a lift and the wall of its shaft while carrying out repair works at the headquarters of dairy giant Müller, an inquest has heard.
Lewis McFarlin (24), of Tean in Stoke-on-Trent suffered multiple trauma injuries when he was trapped on the Market Drayton site last January 14.
McFarlin, who had previously worked for RJ Lift Services, was approached to examine the two-ton goods elevator with Ryan Wintle and Richard Fuller.
His friends called him a legend. He was looking at the top of the lift, when suddenly it moved.
The scene was immediately attended to by emergency personnel, but there were no immediate plans to save the man.
Senior coroner for Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, John Ellery, told the jury: ‘This is an accident at work’.
Tragic: Lewis McFarlin, 24, of Tean, Stoke-on-Trent, died after he suffered multiple traumatic injuries after becoming trapped between a lift and the wall of its shaft on January 14 last year (Pictured: Lewis with his mother Leah Salt)
He added: ‘Lewis and two colleagues were working at a premises, at Müller UK at Market Drayton.
‘On the day in question Lewis and two colleagues went to repair lifts at Müller UK, having carried out certain repairs they were asked to look at a two-ton goods lift in the production area.
“Lexicon Lewis was standing on top of the lift’s roof at one point. The lift suddenly moved and Lewis fell between the wall and lift. Lewis died. That’s why this inquiry has been started.
According to Mr Ellery, there were no significant findings in the toxicology report.
RJ Lift Service’s lift engineer for more than 20 years, Mr Fuller was called to inspect the goods lift. He told the Inquest that the doors on ground floor did not open when the lift was being loaded.
He stated, “We realized that there was a problem.” Lewis reached the top. I think it was at the middle floor.
According to Mr Fuller, McFarlin discovered a problem in the landing doors locks. He had taken the lift down so that he could enter the building and fix the issue.
After they felt satisfied with the work, McFarlin stated that the plan was to have Mr McFarlin take the lift down to the ground level to let him exit and test it.
He said that the lift suddenly went up.
He stated, “I was expecting to fall and he got up.”
Mr McFarlin had been working for RJ Lift Services when he was asked to look at the two-ton goods elevator alongside colleagues Richard Fuller and Ryan Wintle (Pictured: Müller UK factory in Market Drayton)
“I could not see anything because the doors were closed.” It was dark, so I waited for the pumps to start. Lewis said “woah waah woah!” Then, I heard an audible scream, and everything stopped.
Fuller claimed that he wasn’t in charge of the lift.
The doors were opened by Mr Wintle, their coworker. He saw that the lift’s top was at the same level as the floor.
The inquest heard that McFarlin was visible in his head, and that McFarlin had one arm sticking out. He tried to get McFarlin free but failed.
Then he went into the motor room, lowered the lift slightly and exposed Mr McFarlin’s chest.
He resisted, saying he couldn’t rescue him. Jurors said that although he tried to get help for him, a jury heard.
It is expected that the inquest will last three days.