Authorities fear a migrant who died trying to reach the UK will never be identified, an inquest heard.

The man, who is thought to be in his 30s, was found dead in a lorry in Sellindge last October under a stack of Christmas catalogues.

The coroner said it was "a tragedy given he was no doubt someone's brother, son or father" that he could not record the name of the man who had died.

Today, an inquest into the migrant's death concluded he died as a result of being crushed under the weight of the stack.

The lorry driver discovered the man buried beneath the cargo and rushed to the nearby Airport Cafe where manager Julie Breen called the police.

The hearing was told all that was visible was legs "protruding from the stack" of catalogues.

He was described as "a very thin Afro-Caribbean male with short curly black hair" with no tattoos, surgical scars or identifying marks.

He had a small cut on his forehead but no other external injuries, the inquest was told.

Pathologist Dr Taylor found the man had no drugs or alcohol in his system.

He said: "At the scene he was found underlying a great number of magazines which appear to have become dislodged and ended up upon his body.

"The cellophane wrapping does not appear to be in contact with his face.

"In absence of any other significant findings, it appears likely that a direct chest traumatic compression asphyxia is the most likely cause of death."

During the autopsy, two unregistered SIM cards and €550 in cash were found stitched into the hem of his clothing but he had no identity documents on him.

DNA and fingerprints were taken and have been cross-referenced with Interpol.

But the detective who investigated the case said it was unlikely he will be identified unless he is known to international police.

Det Sgt Simon Johnson, of Kent Police, said in evidence that police received a phone call from the manager of the Airport Cafe saying a lorry driver had entered the cafe saying he could see a leg sticking out of the lorry.

He added that when he arrived at the scene the lorry was parked in the corner and a plastic lighter and hat were found near the crate.

The trailer had crates of catalogues as well as industrial size plastic pipes. Urine and other evidence was found in them leading authorities to conclude people had been hiding in them.

Paramedics and firefighters were also sent to the scene but no attempts were made to revive the victim.

The Hungarian lorry had come from Germany and on arrival at Calais before crossing to Dover, driver Lorinc Gyula said he heard a number of individuals enter his trailer.

The inquest heard when he had arrived at the port he immediately notified the authorities.

French police and sniffer dogs searched the vehicle and 10 Eritrean immigrants were removed from the trailer.

It was found a sharp object had been used to slash through the roof.

Assistant coroner Christopher Morris said he could not conclude some aspects of the inquest such as the identity of the person who died.

"At the scene he was found underlying a great number of magazines which appear to have become dislodged and ended up upon his body" - Dr Taylor

He said: "What we do know is this very unfortunate gentleman was found dead in a HGV trailer.

"On the balance of probability, it appears most likely the gentleman had entered that trailer either alone or perhaps with others.

"The trailer was full of a variety of cargo including stacks of Christmas catalogues.

"It appears that the sequence of events leading to the unfortunate gentleman's tragic death is that in the course of attempting to conceal himself within the trailer, a quantity of those catalogues fell on him causing a traumatic compressive asphyxia.

"A very detailed and helpful police investigation has been undertaken by Kent Police.

"There was no third party involvement or suspicious circumstances.

"I'm unable to record the name of this deceased gentleman, a tragedy given he was no doubt someone's brother, son or father."

He concluded the cause of death was traumatic compressive asphyxia and concluded the man had died by accident.