Sheffield Independent – Wednesday 30 November 1927

Died At Work.

Rotherham Miners Tragic End.

An inquest held at Parkgate, yesterday, Joe Muscroft, aged 37. miner, of 17. Sandhill road, who was found lying dead in the Kilnhurst Colliery on Saturday.

Ernest Pearce, a deputy, of 13 St Nicholas road. Sandhill, said at 1.10 a.m on Saturday he saw deceased, who was working at the coal face, and he then said “l ought never to have started work  yet.”

Later he saw deceased lying his back apparently asleep. He touched him. but received no response, and later found he was dead .

There was no sign of an accident, and it appeared as though he had been taken ill.

Dr J. Lister said deceased had been under his care for some time, and on November he strongly advised him not to start work.

“The top immediate cause of death was heart failure, due to valvular heart disease. He was doing work which was too much for him.

A verdict was recorded accordance with the medical evidence.