Father died using water jet hose at Land Rover plant

AFATHER killed while working at Jaguar Land Rover died accidentally, an inquest has concluded.

Joseph McDonald, from Bosworth Road, Acocks Green, was fatally injured as he used a high-pressure water jet system in the paint shop at the firm’s plant in Lode Lane, Solihull.

It happened as the 38-year worked overtime as an industrial cleaner on June 18 this year.

Birmingham Coroner’s Court heard he suffered severe blood loss due to serious blunt force injury to his left armpit.

His colleague, Mohammed Khan, told the four-day inquest that he had operated the equipment three times before the accident happened.

Mr Khan, who spoke through an interpreter, said: “All of a sudden he shouted ‘Whoa!’ so I stopped operating the foot pedal which controls the water pressure.

“I saw he was bleeding and I immediately ran to switch off the remote control.

“He was my good brother.”

Colleagues performed CPR until paramedics arrived but Mr McDonald suffered a cardiac arrest and died at the scene.

He was described by his partner Kate Ainsworth as the “superhero of the family” whose life “revolved around his family and football”.

Mr McDonald worked for friend, like a War- wick-based Leadec Services. An inquest jury returned a verdict of accidental death and concluded that several factors contributed to the tragedy.

The use of a nozzle on a flexi-hose pipe was not safe and the use of duct tape was inadequate to indicate the flow of water.

Mr McDonald had not received adequate training in the use of the system.

The court heard he had attended a safety course to operate the equipment but his certificate had expired.

Only staff who had a valid certificate should have been using the high-pressure equipment.

Coroner Emma Brown offered her sympathies to the family in court and said: “I hope you can focus on the lovely memories you have of Joe.”