EPL
An inquest has been opened into the death of the construction worker who died after an incident at the site of Everton’s new stadium.
Michael Jones, 26, was working as a ventilation engineer at Bramley Moore Dock when the incident happened on August 14. He was rushed to Aintree Hospital with head injuries and pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
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The inquest was told that it was understood Michael, who was wearing a hard hat, had been working on a scissor ladder when he was caught between a beam and the machinery. A colleague noticed a lift had stopped working and raised the alarm after climbing on the top to release it.
The inquest opened at Gerard Magella courthouse just a few minutes’ walk from the site. The coroner, Andrew Rebello, said he was waiting for the results of a full post-mortem and that a “complex and technical investigation” was underway involving the Health and Safety Executive.
Michael, an Everton fan whose middle name was Goodison after their current ground, had been described by his family as “so happy” to be working on the stadium where his favourite football team will play next season.
In a statement on the Everton website, his sister, Gemma Leary, said: “Michael was the baby, a boy after three daughters. He was adored by everyone and he loved spending time with his dad watching Everton.”
Sean Dyche, Everton’s manager, is among the people who have laid flowers at a floral tribute outside the stadium, where construction work has now resumed. Other flowers have been laid by club ambassadors Ian Snodin and Graham Stuart, as well as Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Everton held a minute’s applause in Michael’s memory when the team played against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend. The club have also committed to consulting with Michael’s family and stadium builders Laing O’Rourke for a lasting tribute.
The inquest was opened without his family being in attendance and adjourned until February 29 next year. A full hearing will be held at an unspecified date to determine the exact cause of death and the events that led to it.
(Photo: Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)
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Daniel Taylor is a senior writer for The Athletic and a four-time Football Journalist of the Year, as well as being named Sports Feature Writer of the Year in 2022. He was previously the chief football writer for The Guardian and The Observer and spent nearly 20 years working for the two titles. Daniel has written five books on the sport. Follow Daniel on Twitter @DTathletic