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A man was crushed to death by a car while trying to steal a catalytic converter, an investigation in Wales has found.
Daniel Stephens, 25, of Blaenavon, Torfaen, was found under a BMW in a parking lot on High Street, Cymmer, Rhondda Cynon Taf, on August 12, around 6 a.m. BST.
He died after the jack he was using to hold the car collapsed.
The car owner told the Pontypridd investigation that he noticed Mr Stephens’ legs protruding from under his BMW.
Russel Seldon said after finding Mr Stephens with no signs of life under his car, he called emergency services.
PC Leah Jeffries, who was at the scene, told the inquest that Mr Stephens was “cold and stiff” and that she could see that his “chest was crushed” when the car was lifted.
It was then that she noticed a car jack and a torch next to her body.
Need money for a court case
Mr Stephens’ friend Aron Godfrey, with whom he had lived in Ynysybwl weeks before his death, told the inquest that Mr Stephens had been “depressed and stressed” because he needed the money to a court case to try to gain more access to her children.
While Mr. Godfrey told his friend “not to do anything stupid”, Mr. Stephens had planned to steal a catalytic converter from a BMW in Cymmer because he knew he could sell it, he said. he declared to the coroner.
At around 1 a.m., Mr Godfrey said he heard a car leave, assuming his close friend was leaving.
After waking up at 5 a.m. to see that Mr Stephens had not returned, he said he drove to Cymmer and saw people standing around the car and the services of emergency happen.
“I knew it was Daniel,” he said.
‘Accidental death’
Following an autopsy, the cause of death was determined to be “crush asphyxia”.
Low levels of tramadol and alcohol were also found in Daniel Stephens’ blood, with Assistant Coroner Rachel Knight finding accidental death.
She expressed her condolences to the family and friends of Mr Stephens, adding: “Obviously a lot of people miss him a lot.”
Source: BBC
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