South Yorkshire Times January 24, 1948

Dead on Conveyor

Natural Causes Verdict on Kilnhurst Mineworker

Evidence of how workmates found George Leonard Staniforth (65) of 45, Wheatley Road, Kilnhurst, an underground worker, dead on a conveyor belt in the Silkstone seam of Kilnhurst colliery last Thursday evening was given at an inquest at on Staniforth at Swinton Council Offices on Tuesday.

The Sheffield district coroner (Mr A.P.Lockwood) recorded a verdict of “Death by natural causes.”

Tightening of Chest

Martha Staniforth, 45 Wheatley Rd, Kilner, said her husband had worked underground for most of his working days, and she never heard him complain until recently when he complained of a tightening of the chest, and said it was due to the cold dust. She last him alive at 8:40 PM on Thursday evening before he went to work.

John William England, salvage deputy, 81, Coronation Rd, Swinton, employed at Kilnhurst colliery said about 11:30 PM, he found Staniforth slumped on a conveyor belt, apparently dead. Staniforth’s work was loading “rings or arches” which did not cause undue strain. Witness mentioned that a few minutes before he found Staniforth dead, Staniforth with a man called Cooke had lifted an empty tub which had become derailed back onto the lines. This might have caused some strain.

Mr C.W. Taylor, representing the NUM, asked witness if there was an overhead rope 2’6” above the conveyor belt, and whether Staniforth could have been struck by it.

Mr Coulthard represented the NCB asked if the conveyor belt was standing when Staniforth was found.

Witness replied that at the time of the derailment of the tub, the conveyor was standing, but three minutes had elapsed between the tub had been put right and Staniforth’s body being found.

Mr Coulthard: Was the belt moving slowly?

Witness: it was on the four – two signal which is steady.

Frank Cooke, 38 Eastwood Ln, Rotherham, salvage worker, said he thought Staniforth had been struck by the rope about the neck and shoulders, but when examined the body he found no marks of violence. He said he distinctly felt the rope “bounce;” it had caught his legs slightly.

Doctor G Forbes, Sheffield City Police pathologist, said although Staniforth had small abrasion of the left leg, the right eye, and of the right eyebrow, cause of death was a blood clot in the right coronary artery, causing coronary thrombosis. A clot of blood was not aggravated by strain.