South Yorkshire Times December 28, 1948
Was Struck by Derrick
Denaby Miner’s Fatal Injuries
An Inquest was held by the Sheffield City Coroner (Mr. A. P. Lockwood) in Sheffield yesterday (Thursday) on a 27-year-old collier, John Farmer, of Blythe Street, Denaby, who sustained fatal Injuries in an accident in the Parkgate Seam at Denaby Main Colliery on December 14th.
Harry Curtis, who was working with Farmer said they were turning a coal cutter when a rope got out of its groove and dropped Into the moving picks.
This- caused a derrick, which Curtis was holding to.be “catapulted” across the working, striking Farmer on the head. He sustained a fractured skull.
Medical evidence was that depth was due to gross bruising of the brain.
The jury returned- a verdict of “Accidental’ death.”