An engineer who died from head injuries after being struck by a 20ft telegraph pole was not wearing a safety helmet, according to an eyewitness.

Christopher Crammond, 40, suffered a fractured skull in the tragic incident at Kingsnorth Industrial Estate, Hoo, where he was pronounced dead at the scene, an inquest was told.

Mr Crammond, who worked for I&A Communications, was employed on the day as part of a three-man team who replace and install telegraph poles.

But in an unusual set of circumstances Mr Crammond, a crane operator from The Drove Way, Istead Rise, near Gravesend, decided to manoeuvre a pole single-handedly, which is against health and safety guidelines.

The inquest heard that when one of the team did not turn up because of car problems on the morning of June 26, another was dispatched to pick him up.

“I did not know him [Mr Crammond] but recognised his ponytail. He was not wearing a hard hat” - Eyewitness Scott Campbell

Meanwhile a storeman who was helping Mr Crammond load up, left him alone for less than two minutes to drop off paperwork at the office nearby. It was in his fleeting absence that tragedy struck.

The assistant, Christopher Epps, said he was just stepping back outside to help him out when a worker from a neighbouring unit rushed in saying there had been an accident.

Mr Epps said: “When I left him he was putting the legs on the lorry to stabilise it. I said I would only be a minute. I expected him to wait for me.”

Mr Epps said the yard was noisy and Mr Crammond may not have heard him when he said he was only going to be a minute.

Scott Campbell was having a cigarette break and had a clear view of much of what happened.

He said: “I did not know him [Mr Crammond] but recognised his ponytail. He was not wearing a hard hat.”

While he did not see the pole hit Mr Crammond, he saw it falling and ran over to find Mr Crammond lying on the ground unconscious.

Ian Burgon, director of I&A Communications, was at the yard but did not witness the incident.

Mr Burgon said Mr Crammond, whom he described as competent, had extensive engineering skills.

After joining the company he underwent a six-week training course.

He added all equipment was regularly checked and replaced if necessary and there were also routine talks on health and safety.

Mr Burgon said when he arrived after the accident, Mr Crammond was next to the pole which had been rolled over. He was wearing full protective wear, including a hard hat.

A jury of six men and five women returned a unanimous verdict of accidental death.

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