A 34-year-old Sky TV engineer died when a car he was working on fell on top of him.

Darnell Peter Benstead was repairing a vehicle at his home on the Birling Park Estate, Birling, near Chatham, on Saturday, April 9, an inquest in Maidstone was told.

Coroner’s officer Rick Watkins-Pitchford read a statement from Mr Benstead’s younger brother, Damien, to the inquest.

“He was always telling me to be careful when jacking up cars,” the statement said. “He would always make sure the car was safe. I knew something was wrong by my mum’s voice. I saw Darnell lying under his car and I could see he wasn’t moving.”

Mr Benstead’s statement added that a group of neighbours managed to lift the car off his younger brother and a nurse at the scene attempted CPR.

Mr Benstead’s statement estimated the accident happened between 5.15pm and 5.30pm.

Home Office pathologist Dr David Rouse carried out the post mortem examination and concluded that Mr Benstead died from traumatic asphyxia caused by compression of the chest. He would have lost consciousness within about 15 or 20 seconds, he added.

Roger Sykes, coroner for Mid Kent and Medway, said: “Darnell died from traumatic asphyxia caused by being crushed under a vehicle. This was simply a most tragic accident.”

Verdict: accidental death.