Metal claw crushes man to death

Floral tributes have been left at the scrapyard by friends and family

A 24-year-old man has been crushed to death by a mechanical claw while in a van at a Southampton scrapyard.

Barry Collins, of Millbrook, Southampton, died after the accident at James Huntley and Sons Scrap Metal and Merchants in Sholing, on Thursday.

Hampshire Constabulary and the Health and Safety Executive have launched a joint investigation and will prepare a report for the coroner.

A criminal investigation into the death is not being carried out.

Mr Collins had taken a vehicle to the site to be scrapped.

It is believed he then returned to get something from a van after the crushing process began.

A crane with pincers designed to break vehicles picked up the van and crushed it before he could get out.

The emergency services were called to the site at 1100 BST on Thursday but Mr Collins died at the scene.

Family and friends have been leaving floral tributes at the scrapyard since the accident.

A post-mortem examination at Southampton General Hospital on Friday revealed Mr Collins died of head and shoulder injuries.