Weak wall probable cause of death

A wall which collapsed and killed a building site worker was being demolished because it was too weak - an inquest heard.

Jeffrey Blent, aged 43, died when part of a wall at a former catalogue shop in Stourbridge High Street crushed him, as he and workmates were transforming the building into a wine bar for JD Wetherspoon.

Contractors were taking three walls down brick by brick to lower them to around 10ft and rebuild them back up, after they were found to be too weak to bear the weight of two extra storeys, the jury was told.

Yesterday, the jury heard more evidence from project administrator Anthony Wills.

He revealed test holes were dug every three metres along the length of the wall, to check the existing foundations and quality of the ground for the new foundations.

Two storeys were deemed safe to be built on top of the lowered wall following an inspection, he said.

Structural engineer Steve Baldwin said the foundations would be adequate to support the extra height, Mr Wills added.

Mr Blent, of Walter Nash Road, Birchen Coppice, Kidderminster, suffered multiple chest and pelvic injuries in the incident in July 2004.

The inquest continues.