THE family of a Whitchurch man says they will continue to remember his memory after a coroner ruled his death in America was a workplace accident.

Christopher Durrant, of Greenfields Rise, died in Massachusetts in August 2022, when he was found severely injured before dying later in hospital.

His death was ruled as an accident at work by Shropshire coroner John Ellery at his inquest at Shirehall in Shrewsbury on Tuesday, February 28.

With family and friends in attendance, Mr Ellery explained that because the death of Mr Durrant occurred in America, it had proven more difficult to obtain information on the events around his death.

He told the court that Mr Durrant, 49, was an engineer for a German company who had been subcontracted to the US arm and had been working installing industrial dryers at a company in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

According to statements provided by two officers from the city’s police department, Mr Durrant had been working on a dryer before two airbags were deployed and pinned him against the wall around 8am on August 6.

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Co-workers tried CPR on Mr Durrant before medical staff took over and he was taken to Lawrence General Hospital but was declared dead at around 9.30am.

Officer Pat Noonan and Detective Michael Simond, in statements read by Coroner’s officer Michael Caesar-Hondon, told the court that police undertook their own investigation and questioned staff and confirmed that health and safety had been alerted.

Mr Ellery gave Mr Durrant’s family, including his daughter Ellie Durrant, the opportunity to ask for more details before he gave his conclusion, but they agreed that a lack of witnesses to the incident meant gathering evidence made the task more difficult.

Speaking after his death last year, Ellie said: “He was someone who loved his job as he got to travel the world exploring some amazing places.

"He will be missed by so many, not only friends and family local to Whitchurch but many friends and work colleagues from around the world.

"Dad grew up in Whitchurch and although he spent most of his life travelling, he always loved coming home.

"You’d often see him out meeting friends in town, putting the world to rights over a coffee at Benjamins.

"Life is different without him, but I am grateful for the amazing memories he has given me."