by Matt Leclere and Sean Axtell

A fundraising page has been set up to help the pregnant girlfriend and young daughter of a man who died in an accident at work.

Ashley King, a mechanic, died in an industrial incident at a garage in Park Farm Close in Folkestone on Thursday, November 16.

Friends have paid tribute to the “funny, cheeky and kind-hearted” father, who was expecting his second child with his girlfriend.

Now more than £900 has been 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.

The page on JustGiving was created by friend Ed Dixon.

He said: “Ash woke up on the morning of November 16 and went to work, something most of us do every day and think nothing of, but Ash didn’t come home from work that day.

“He was working underneath a car and the worst happened. Even with the help of ambulances, paramedics and even the air ambulance, Ash couldn’t be saved.

“Ash leaves behind a loving girlfriend, two daughters (one of whom is still yet to be born and even meet her incredible daddy), an amazingly strong family and a million friends.

“Together, we all need to club together and help celebrate the life of one of the kindest and funniest men we’ve all had the pleasure of knowing.

“Funerals aren’t cheap and if we want Ash to have the send off he deserves we all need to help him out.

“Anything we raise here will go directly towards Ashley’s funeral, and if we manage to raise over the amount we need, the extra will be split straight down the middle and put into two accounts for his two girls for when they turn 18.”

Police are investigating the incident and colleagues from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have also been called in to assist officers with their inquiries.

The tragedy struck just before midday last Thursday.

According to friends, Mr King had been working underneath a car.

Paramedics, the air ambulance and police were called at 11.45am to the scene but Mr King sadly died at the scene despite efforts to save him.

Ambulance service spokesman Rich Airey said: “Sadly it’s a fatal incident on the Park Farm Industrial Estate.

“We were called at 11.45am and sent three paramedic cars and one ambulance. We also had the air ambulance join us at the scene.

“But despite the best effort of all those at the scene one man was pronounced dead.”

The air ambulance landed on school playing fields at the nearby Folkestone Academy.