ANOTHER tragedy similar to that which resulted in the death of Jordan Lee Widdall-Hughes is bound to happen if children continue to play on or around moving vehicles, a coroner warned.
Gwent coroner David Bowen was told at the opening of the inquest into the 10-year-old's death that the youngster had apparently fallen or jumped from the rear of a moving lorry, having climbed onto the vehicle without the driver's knowledge.
Adjourning the inquest until police investigations have been completed, Mr Bowen said he wanted to repeat a warning issued by Gwent Police in the aftermath of the incident, which happened on Tuesday April 15 near Mill Parade, off Newport's busy Southern Distributor Road.
"Although the full facts will be investigated when this inquest is resumed, initial investigations indicate that Jordan died when he fell off the trailer of an articulated lorry onto which he had climbed without the knowledge of its driver, in order to take an illicit ride," said Mr Bowen.
"I take this opportunity to repeat the warning given by Gwent Police, of the dangers of young people playing on or in the vicinity of moving vehicles.
"Such actions can only result in a similar tragedy."
Jordan had moved to Potter Street, Pill, in Newport, only last month, with his three younger siblings and mother Emily, to be closer to relatives in the city.
Police investigations are continuing, but it is understood that Jordan had been playing with a group of other children, including eight-year-old brother Shane, when the incident happened at around 5.55pm.
He was pronounced dead at the Royal Gwent Hospital a little time later.
Mr Bowen was told that a post-mortem examination indicated Jordan had suffered head injuries "consistent with the known circumstances" and that these were given as the provisional cause of death.
The inquest was adjourned.
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