The family of a man who was electrocuted on an illegal traveller site say police should have informed them of his death before they found out on social media.

Andrew Webb, 53, was found unresponsive in an electrical mains outhouse off Plurenden Lane in High Halden.

His 21-year-old son was informed of his death two days after the incident in a message from a friend on social media, leading to anger among Mr Webb’s family.

An inquest at the Archbishop’s Palace, Maidstone, heard how Mr Webb had injuries suggesting he had accidentally touched a live supply wire which, combined with prior medical conditions, caused his death.

The news travelled quickly on social media, faster than police’s efforts to find Mr Webb’s family, the hearing was told.

His estranged wife Jacqueline Miles said: “I haven’t been impressed with the way the police have dealt with it and the way my son found out.

“The neighbours found him on social media and some idiot sent my son a message saying ‘your dad is dead’.

“I feel you probably could have found us on social media and contacted my son at least.”

Despite finding Mr Webb's phone, and his car nearby, police were unable to locate his next-of-kin or decipher his phone’s pin lock.

Det Sgt Stuart Ward said: “Our starting point was where the vehicle was registered to and when we went there they said they didn’t know where the next-of-kin was. Unfortunately social media moves far quicker than Kent Police and the Met Police and it’s always important for us to inform people face-to-face.

“I haven’t been impressed with the way the police have dealt with it and the way my son found out..." - Jacqueline Miles

“We could try contacting families through Facebook, but we could accidentally message the wrong person. Even the most obscure names have 20 users with it. I’m sorry we didn’t get to you quicker but unfortunately it was decided you were too far over the county border for Kent Police to visit and the Met took too long.”

According to the woman who found Mr Webb’s body, the self-employed technician arrived at the site in the morning.

At about 5.30pm on Sunday, May 13, she tried making dinner but the electricity was off.

Believing Mr Webb may have have turned off the supply, she investigated by looking into caravans but it was not until she approached the electric supply building that she found him unresponsive.

Upon arrival, the attending police officer pronounced him dead at the scene.

Assistant coroner Scott Matthewson said: “There were no documents found to place him to work with any official capacity.

“He seemed to be doing it as an unpaid job.”

Mr Matthewson had sympathy for the police and their inability to control social media, and asked Ms Miles to pass on his condolences to her son.

Concluding the hearing, he said: “Mr Webb was working on an electrical supply in circumstances that are not clear. His hand came into contact with a live electrical wire which gave him an electrical shock which was sufficient to cause his death.”

It was recorded as an accidental death.