Mum was crushed in car park shutter after a ‘moment of silliness’
A MOTHER who was crushed to death by a motorised shutter in an underground car park had grabbed it in an ‘act of silliness’.
Heidi Chalkley, 40, took hold of the rolling metal door with both hands meaning to let go, but was dragged into the mechanism.
A friend, who has not been named, frantically tried to pull her free with the help of onlookers, but the mother-of-one died ‘immediately’.
Some reported seeing the social worker’s body suspended in the air after hearing her friend’s screams at the block of flats in Cambridge.
Paul Garnell, Cambridgeshire coroner’s officer, said: ‘A 40-yearold woman was with her friend at Ruth Bagnall Court and they were in the underground car park because her friend resided at this location.
‘They were going out of the exit via the car park. She had pressed the button to operate it and in the process of the shutter going up, in an act of silliness, she reached up and held on to the shutter. She was meant to drop down but her arms got caught and it’s pulled her up into the mechanism, where it caused death immediately.’
Miss Chalkley, who died on Sunday, worked for Cambridgeshire County Council.
Adrian Loades, executive director of children, families and adults at the council, said: ‘She was a great social worker with a lot of potential, who was highly professional and passionate about her job.
‘Heidi had a bubbly personality which made her a pleasure to work with.’
One resident came outside after hearing Miss Chalkley’s friend screaming. She said: ‘I saw her [Miss Chalkley’s] legs dangling. It was not a sight I want to remember.’
Other residents claimed security shutters often broke down. One said: ‘The door is supposed to stop when it catches on something for safety purposes.’
A spokesman said building manager Luminus was unable to comment while an investigation is carried out.