A jury inquest will be held into the death of a dad who reportedly fell into an open manhole while working on a new-build estate construction site.

Father-of-two David ‘Ogga’ Archer suffered fatal injuries as a result of the incident in Manston, near Ramsgate, in November.

The loss of the 36-year-old from Deal, who had “the biggest heart of gold”, left friends and family distraught.

At a pre-inquest review held at Oakwood House in Maidstone on Monday, coroner Sarah Clarke said the full inquest into the cause of Mr Archer’s death will require a jury.

“The reason for that is that it was an accident at work notifiable to the Health and Safety Executive,” she said.

“I plan to submit photographic evidence.”

Four witnesses will be called, including Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Joanne Williams.

The preliminary date for the two-day hearing is June 17 and 18.

Friends of Mr Archer previously told KentOnline that while working at Barratt David Wilson Kent’s Spitfire Green development at 10.30pm on Tuesday, November 14, the specialist labourer fell through an open manhole cover.

Police and ambulance crews were called to the site, off New Haine Road, but despite the efforts of paramedics, tragically he was declared dead at the scene.

There were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death, and the HSE launched an investigation into the incident.

Friend Craige Josh, who was working with Mr Archer at the time of the tragedy, said: “He had the biggest heart of gold.

“He would spend his last £10 on a piece of barbecue meat to make sure his friends were all fed – that’s the kind of guy he was.”

After moving to Deal as a child, Mr Archer attended Castle Community College – now called the Goodwin Academy.

While at school, he met his future wife Rachel, becoming official after about two years of “courting”.

The couple had two children together – Jack, nine, and Poppy, who turned five a week before Mr Archer’s sudden death.

A fundraising page set up for his family revealed how on that tragic evening, as he left home, he “hugged his babies” and told them he loved them.

It said: “Jack and Poppy said ‘see ya later Dad, love youuuu’, Rachel told him she loved him and as he always would say ‘love you babe’.

“Ogga never came home.”

It described Mr Archer as “one of the loveliest, kindest and most caring men that you will ever meet”.

Despite an original goal of £5,000, the fundraiser now stands at more than £38,000 from more than 900 donations.

A spokesperson for Barratt David Wilson Kent previously said: “We are deeply saddened to confirm that an individual working at our development in Manston passed away

“Our thoughts and condolences are with his family, friends and co-workers. We are supporting the teams on the site and relevant authorities as they investigate what happened.”

A police spokesman said: “Kent Police was called to a report that a man had suffered injuries at a site near New Haine Road, Ramsgate at 10.30pm on Tuesday, November 14.

“Emergency services attended and a man was pronounced deceased at the scene.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner.”