Inquest hears of boy's farm death

An inquest has heard how an eight-year-old boy died after he was crushed under a fork lift truck driven by his uncle.

Thomas Baybutt, from Southport on Merseyside, was holidaying on his grandparents' farm in Flintshire when the tragedy struck.

He died from multiple injuries sustained from the incident on 22 October last year.

At his inquest in Mold, his parents Frank and Andrea said they did not want anyone to be prosecuted over his death.

North East Wales coroner John Hughes recorded a verdict of accidental death and described it as a "desperate, desperate tragedy".

'Worst scenario'

The accident happened on Thomas' grandparents ' farm in Sealand.

His uncle Stewart Banks, who was driving the truck at the time of the accident, did not give evidence following advice from the coroner and a solicitor.

The eight-year-old was run over by the reversing fork lift truck in the potato grading shed.

Thomas had been brought up on a farm and was used to machinery and warned of the dangers, the inquest heard.

Coroner John Hughes said Thomas' death was the "worst possible scenario for any parent to lose a child in such circumstances".

He added that his heart went out to Mr and Mrs Baybutt following the tragedy.

An investigation has been unable to identify whether the boy was on or off the truck at the time of the accident.

The Health and Safety Executive has not made a decision on whether a prosecution will follow. They are expected to decide following the inquest.