Keen gardener crushed to death by lawnmower

A keen gardener cutting her lawn for a church fund-raising event was killed in a freak accident when she was crushed by her ride-on lawnmower.

Grandmother Julie Coade was putting the finishing touches to her beloved garden before opening it up to members of the public in Trallong, near Brecon.

An inquest heard that Mrs Coade, 71, was trapped under her mower which overturned after she attempted to mow a steep bank in her garden in the quiet country village.

Neighbour Paul Crowhurst said the pensioner regularly used her lawnmower and looked confident with it.

Mr Crowhurst tried to revive his neighbour before paramedics arrived but they could do nothing to save Mrs Coade.

The inquest heard that Mrs Coade had suffered a compression of the chest and died from traumatic asphyxia. The coroner recorded an accidental death verdict.

The open garden event due to raise money for a village church, was cancelled as a mark of respect to Mrs Coade.