Roofer tells of his dad's death fall

Daniel's father, Martin Livingstone, had gone to climb a ladder to retrieve a wheelbarrow on scaffolding boards that were 15 feet above the ground. He suffered fatal head injuries in the fall at Folders Farm, off Folders Lane, on February 25 this year.

At the Haywards Heath inquest on Tuesday, Daniel Livingstone said in a statement read out to the jury: "My father told me he was going up the ladder to get the wheelbarrow. I had my back to the ladder.

"I heard my father shout out and I turned round and saw him lying on the ground with his hard hat next to him."

Martin Livingstone, 48, of Calgary Road, Bexhill, and his son Daniel, of Preston Road, had been working as self-employed roofers for sub-contractors Alincourt Roofing Ltd, of Henfield, who were supplying labour for the Crest Nicholson development where 90 housing units were being built.

The fatal fall happened at approximately 8am, shortly after Mr Livingstone and his son had arrived on site. No one witnessed the fall.

The emergency services arrived on scene within minutes and Mr Livingstone was airlifted to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel but died from multiple head injuries.

Breaking down while giving evidence, Barry Corrick, the senior site manager for Crest Nicholson, said: "I was putting my boots on when Daniel came running in to ask for help. As I got nearer to the accident I broke into a run. I saw Martin Livingstone and led Daniel away."

Mr Corrick, of Chanctonbury Road, Burgess Hill, said health and safety regulations had been strictly adhered to with site inductions for all workers, regular health and safety inspections as well as hourly site observations by Crest Nicholson managers.

Denis Bodger, an inspector with the Health and Safety Executive who investigated the accident and examined the scaffolding and ladder, said: "I am satisfied there have been no breaches of the health and safety regulations."

Several witnesses praised Martin Livingstone's skills as a roofer.

David Kingsland, director of Alincourt Roofing Ltd said: "He was our top man and an excellent tradesman who had been working for Alincourt for 15 or 16 years."

Senior site manager Barry Corrick said of Mr Livingstone: "His work was always first class and his health and safety standards were excellent. We were very happy with his work."

After hearing the evidence, the jury took under an hour to reach a unanimous verdict of accidental death.

Offering her condolences to Daniel and his mother Ann Livingstone, West Sussex coroner Penelope Schofield said: "You were able to witness the great praise levied on Martin by the witnesses and I hope you can draw comfort from that."