The jury in an inquest into the death of human cannonball Matthew Cranch during a show has concluded the tragedy was an accident.

The eight members sat in Maidstone's Archbishop's Palace and retired this afternoon, after hearing evidence of how safety checks were rigorous ahead of stunts.

Tony Nicholls, who fired Mr Cranch from the cannon, told the court that equipment was regularly cleaned and checked for faults.

Despite this Mr Cranch, 24, died at Detling Showground in April 2011 after a safety net that was meant to catch him collapsed while he was in mid air.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Cranch family paid tribute in a statement, saying: “Our son Matthew was an intelligent, happy, bright, uncomplicated child.

"These traits in his character continued and developed through his life. He was kind, caring, patient and loving, with integrity beyond his years.

"Matthew was a 'free spirit', who truly was a genuine guy. He brought to the world a kindness, gentleness, sensitivity, fairness and incredible sense of humour, an unforgettable smile and the very best of big hugs.

"We will always be grateful and thankful for his love and the time we were able to spend together. The loss of our son is a matter we can never accept or recover from."

They added the proceedings had been enormously difficult and requested privacy.

"We understand that a criminal investigation in relation to this matter remains ongoing and we have no further comments to make at this time," the statement said.

Mr Nicholls, who had worked at around 800 stunt shows, and was chief mechanic for the entertainment company, told the court: “As far as all employees were concerned safety of the equipment was a top priority.

“The equipment was checked and maintained on breaks and during the set-up the people that would set it up would check it and raise any issues.

“There wouldn’t have been an issue about removing the stunt from the show. If somebody wasn’t happy with it, it wouldn’t be used until it was put right.”

He also said that although he had no formal qualifications for the role he had been chief mechanic since 2006 and had gained experience from his stock car racing hobby.

The inquest heard that this was probably the fifth time Mr Cranch had performed the stunt, having started working with the company in March.

Steve May, who set up Stunts UK with his father in 1991, told the hearing Mr Cranch immediately expressed an interest in becoming involved with the stunts.

He added: "Matt was very enthusiastic and really keen on getting involved. He had a really good attitude. He had a very good mechanical background and he was a very competent mechanic from the discussions we had."

He said at the point the cannon is about to be fired he always visited with the performer. On the day in question he walked around with Mr Cranch and Tony Nicholls did his own checks.

Mr May said he bought the cannon from another stunt company in 2001 and over that winter he ordered for the safety trigger to be switched from a solenoid to manual system.

He told coroner Patricia Harding he did this in order to make the system safer.

He feared an electrical fault with the lorry could cause the solenoid to release the trigger at the wrong time.

Prior to the accident he carried out a visual inspection and could not see anything affecting the trigger.

Mr Cranch was also involved in this inspection.

Mr May added: "Most of the training is done on the job since the season gets going.

"On the first day when we start the tour there's a training day, an induction day where we talk through.

"After that the information required is passed on by myself and staff who have been there through the seasons.

"They would work on how to do it on a number of occasions then do it under supervision before doing it on their own."

Mr May positioned the lorry that held the cannon himself. He then marked out a place for the net but that's as far as his involvement went. He then handed it over to employees.
He said he was not aware the release mechanism could be set in a false position.

Yesterday mechanical engineer Alex Grimes, from the Health and Safety Laboratory, told coroner Patricia Harding he believes a safety trigger used to anchor the safety net set itself in a 'false position.'

The cannon was placed on top of a red and white lorry and the net was attached to a safety trigger on the side of the vehicle.

It is believed a cog inside the mechanism had not properly locked in with the trigger and when the lorry recoiled from the explosion it caused the trigger to be released.

Today Mr Nicholls said would be cleaned every two to three weeks with a pressure and lubricated with oil, usually WB40 and that in his time working for the company he had not taken it apart.

Mr Cranch died in what was the company’s eighth show of the year, although the cannonball stunt may not have been performed at each venue.

He joined the company in March and is believed to have performed the trick successfully five times prior to the accident.

The jury spokesman said in summing up: "Matthew Cranch was performing a human cannonball stunt at Detling showground in Maidstone on 25 April 2011 at 15.40.

"At some point during the firing of the cannon the safety net quick release mechanism activated prematurely, as a result of being incorrectly set.

"As a result of the net collapsing Matthew Cranch sustained multiple injuries.

"Treatment was administered by emergency services at the scene of the accident and he was transferred by ambulance to Maidstone General Hospital.

"As a result of his injuries, he was confirmed dead at 17.13 on 25 April."

Conclusion: Matthew Cranch died as a result of an accident.