The death of a “devoted and loving” farmer who died after he came into contact with a combine harvester was an accident, an inquest has concluded.

George Evans, 80, suffered serious head and chest injuries and died in a field at the family farm in Winnington, between Halfway House and Trewern, on August 21, 2019.

Shrewsbury Coroners Court heard that on the third and final day of combining at Lane Farm, family friend and neighbour Stuart Evans was driving a New Holland combine harvester, while the 80-year-old farmer was driving a tractor pulling a trailer in and out of the field.

In a statement read out in court, Stuart Evans said he next saw George Evans near the cab of the combine harvester with a serious head wound. He then placed George Evans in a recovery position and phoned 999. An air and land ambulance arrived at the scene however George Evans died at the scene of the accident shortly before 6pm.

Stuart Evans said he was unable to recall a collision, and a report by police collision investigator PC Timothy Viner found that there was no blood on the combine harvester’s spreader, nor defects on the large farm machine.

Health and safety executive Andrew Johnson suggested that it was possible that George Evans had returned to the field to look at a blockage in the combine harvester and gone underneath to clear it, and may have been hit while Stuart Evans was unaware he was there.

A jury of five women and three men concluded that George Evans died from injuries sustained when he came into contact with a combine harvester while at work. The exact circumstances of how George Evans came to his death were unclear, they added.

A family tribute written by George Evans’ daughter, which was read during the inquest, described the 80-year-old as a man who was “devoted to his community”.

The former head boy at Welshpool Modern School met his wife Margaret at Alberbury Young Farmers Club, and they had four children. He was “adored” by his grandchildren, who he loved, supported and guided.

George Evans would “light up any dancefloor with his waltz and quick step” and had a “twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face”.

A former chairman and president of Alberbury YFC, George Evans took part in the club’s 70th anniversary celebrations and had the honour of cutting the cake as the club’s oldest member. He and his wife hosted many charitable events at Lane Farm, had always supported young people who wanted to go into farming, and treated his staff with respect.

He loved the land and family life, the tribute concluded.

Assistant coroner Joanne Lees offered her condolences to George Evans’ family who were present at the inquest.