Tribute to father killed at factory

The son of a man killed in a forklift truck accident at a Black Country ironworks has paid tribute to his father.

Mohinder Singh, aged 53, of Yale Drive, Wednesfield, died of head injuries when his forklift truck overturned and landed on him at Sigmacast Iron Ltd on Upper Church Lane, Tipton, last Monday.

An inquest was opened on Friday and adjourned by Black Country coroner Mr Robin Balmain. Mr Singh's son, Bal Badyal, 30, said he would be missed by all the family. "My dad was a devoted father," he said.

"We were all shocked and saddened to hear he'd been killed at the factory.

"He'd worked there for 22 years this month and it was a hard job, but he never moaned or complained."

Mr Singh came over to England from India in 1976 at the age of 18, and worked in several factories across the Midlands.

"A lot of people knew him," said Mr Badyal. "He was always out in his garden, even before he went to work. You could set your watch by him.

Mr Singh said his father was a "passive man" and "devoted dad".

"He gave his kids everything," said Mr Badyal.

"It's very sad because the company announced redundancies a few months ago, and he applied but was told that too many people had already applied.

"He was also told at Christmas that there would be another round of redundancies and he was looking forward to that, but now he won't get to spend Christmas with his family."

Mr Singh left a wife Mindu Kaur, a daughter Kiran Badyal, 16, and a son Maninder Badyal, 15. The family was holding a passing away ceremony at Sigmacast Iron Ltd this afternoon.