Coroner's Finding: Kingston, Neil Robert
Deceased
Neil Robert Kingston
Demographics
67y, male
Date of death
2016-11-27
Finding date
2017-10-23
Cause of death
acute intracranial (subarachnoid) haemorrhage resulting from blunt force trauma to head with skull fracture
AI-generated summary
Neil Robert Kingston, 67, died from acute subarachnoid haemorrhage caused by blunt force trauma to his head when struck by a tree branch while felling a tree. He was not wearing a helmet despite wearing other protective equipment (chaps, boots, earplugs). The pathologist opined that a helmet would likely have made the injury survivable. Kingston had no formal tree felling training despite 40 years of experience. The coroner found the death completely avoidable with proper precautions and safety equipment. Key lessons: formal chainsaw and tree felling training should be mandatory; protective equipment including helmets must be worn; and land owners should ensure users are appropriately qualified.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Specialties
Error types
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- failure to wear helmet
- poor tree felling technique
- lack of formal training in tree felling
- tree branch struck head when felled tree impacted another tree
Coroner's recommendations
- All chainsaw operators must undertake approved chainsaw training prior to purchasing or using a chainsaw
- All persons selling chainsaws must be accredited chainsaw operators
- All chainsaw operators must undergo regular practical reassessment ideally every three years
- All land owners and managers be required to ensure that people permitted to use chainsaws on their land be appropriately qualified
- No person under the age of 16 years be permitted to own or use a chainsaw in any circumstances
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