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2009 Slush Pile

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dad died stuck between wall & post

2009 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

Dad died stuck between wall and post on night out

The scene of the fatal accident The scene of the fatal accident The scene of the fatal accident Click on thumbnail to view image Click on thumbnail to view image Click on thumbnail to view image Click on thumbnail to view image

« Previous « Previous Next » Next » View Gallery ADVERTISEMENT Published Date: 29 April 2009 By Sarah Dunn A DAD died just feet from his home after he became wedged upside down in a gap between a fence post and a wall in a freak accident, an inquest heard. Patrick Horton, aged 32, became trapped between the stone wall and a brick post next to his back garden gate as he made his way home from a Christmas night out.

Mr Horton was discovered by his stepson in the early hours of Christmas Eve after he failed to return home following a drink with pals at the Spread Eagle pub in Penistone.

His distraught partner Janine Firth tried to rescue him while they waited for an ambulance but Mr Horton was pronounced dead at the scene in Keats Grove, Penistone, by paramedics at 2am.

The inquest heard Mr Horton could have been trapped for up to four hours after last being seen in the Balti Takeaway in High Street at around 10pm.

The court heard there was no way of knowing how Mr Horton became stuck upside down between the two walls.

He may have been trying to climb over the garden gate or could have been sitting on the wall when he fell backwards, head-first into the space.

DS Andrew Butters, who led the investigation into the tragedy, said: "The space was very small. He was wedged in - his legs were trapped, together with his torso."

Pathologist Dr Steven Beck said the cause of death was asphyxia and compression of the chest.

He added alcohol had contributed to Mr Horton's death.

Tests showed Mr Horton was four times the drink drive limit which would have had a significant effect on his motor and cognitive functions.

DS Butters said reports from witnesses out with Mr Horton - who played football for Penistone Church for 14 years - that night described him as "happy and enjoying himself".

Ms Firth spoke to him at around 7pm and noted nothing of concern, before going to bed at 11pm expecting him to return home soon after.

When she awoke at 1am and he had still not returned she called her son Jordan and asked him to look for Mr Horton.

A search of Penistone failed to find him and Jordan went out to check the back garden where he discovered his stepdad.

In a statement Ms Firth, who has a three-year-old daughter Freya, with Mr Horton, said: "He was trapped between the wall on Wentworth Road and the brick post for a wooden fence."

Recording a verdict of accidental death assistant deputy coroner Donald Coutts-Wood said: "It is clear he made his way home and he was clearly in drink. He has ended up in this extraordinary position upside down."

Submitted on 04/30/2009

Submitted by: jason
Reference: www.thestar.co.uk. april 29 2009

Copyright © 2009 DarwinAwards.com

>> Moderator Scores <<

Bruce said:
Definitely Toss: Lacks Excellence
This sounds a lot more like an unfortunate accident than any true stupidity. Many people, drunk and sober, sit on ledges/walls or try to climb over them, and it's not uncommon for them to lose their balance and fall backwards. I've done it myself. Unfortunately for this guy he did so in a place where he ended up stuck, and did it when nobody was around to help. It's just a case of really rotten luck and nothing more. Thanks just the same, Jason.


James said:
Definitely Toss: Lacks Excellence
As Bruce said!


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