A father was killed when a car he was dismantling fell and crushed him, however, investigators can't determine exactly how the accident happened, an inquest heard.

The two-day hearing of Ashley King's inquest opened today at Maidstone's Archbishop's Palace where it was revealed he died from compression chest injuries.

The accident happened on November 16 in 2017 when a Ford Escort the 22-year-old was working on at VJ Automotives in Park Farm Industrial Estate, Folkestone, fell from its axle stand.

Today's hearing, which features a jury because Mr King died at work, heard evidence from a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigator, police, employers and medics.

Chris Marshall, from the HSE told assistant coroner Katrina Hepburn: "It's impossible to say what caused the car to fall.

"But the car did fall from the axle, and because there were no wheels underneath the car (it) fell down onto Mr King who was underneath."

He explained the axle stands propping the front of the vehicle possibly became displaced "due to the car moving" without wedges "placed against the rear tyres."

Mr Marshall added: "(The axles) are under the vehicle but it’s impossible to tell from the video whether they were under a structural element of the car.

"It is impossible to see if the axle stand or the car moved."

When Mr Marshall presented CCTV footage showing the moments leading to Mr King's death his family could be seen comforting each other.

It showed Mr King arrive on the garage forecourt at about 10am with his then employer Vaughan Jones.

Mr Jones, a trained mechanic, left to carry out errands at Capel-le-Ferne and Hythe while Mr King, who was unqualified, began work on a Peugoet and Ford Escort.

Giving evidence, Mr Jones explained he had not instructed Mr King to go underneath the Escort and had "no idea why he would be under there."

He added Mr King should not have used the garage's car creeper - a mechanic's trolley - to get under the Escort because it had no wheels.

He said: "There was no explanation for him being underneath the nearer side of of the car.

"There was no work for him to carry out there."

Mr Jones, who employed Mr King on a casual basis, explained: "He had been asking me for a while (for work) but I couldn't really afford him.

"But when things picked up I asked him if he'd like to come and help out because he was unemployed. It was on a casual basis."

At the time of the incident Mr King had no alcohol or drugs in his system, according to a toxicology report read out in court.

Kent Police's DS McKeon, who attended the scene following an emergency ambulance call added there was no third party involvement.

"Mr King’s body was examined to make sure there was no unusual marks and injuries but all injuries were found to be consistent (with being crushed).

“The conclusion was no third party involvement or any suspicious circumstances.”

The jury of seven men and four women will return their verdict tomorrow before Ms Hepburn sums up.

She awaits evidence from Mr Vaughan showing a text conversation with Mr King moments before his death.

Mr King, an ex-Folkestone Academy pupil, was expecting his second child before the incident.

More than £2,780 was donated by people wishing to help support the family in paying for funeral costs and setting up a fund for his two daughters for when they turn 18.