Man died after tyre on trailer exploded

A coroner yesterday advised people inflating tyres to be extra careful after hearing how a 59-year-old agricultural contractor died after a tyre exploded “the same as a bomb”.

Timothy Riordan, of Listry, Faha, Co Kerry, died at Kerry General Hospital on Mar 10, 2012 from head, neck, and chest trauma due to tyre blast injuries, according to assistant state pathologist Dr Margot Bolster.

The inquest in Tralee was told Mr Riordan was blown 15ft against a steel door after a tyre on a large dump trailer he was inflating blew.

His brother, James Riordan, gave evidence of finding Tim with serious injuries and could see the steel circular wire that clamps on the wheel on the ground alongside him.

Dr Margot Bolster, assistant state pathologist, who carried out the autopsy, said accidents and deaths due to tyres exploding during inflation were common, with victims suffering direct hits from the rim. Young male mechanics were especially vulnerable to such injuries, studies had found.

Coroner Helen Lucey asked the jury to bring in a rider warning people to be careful when inflating tyres.

The family was offered sympathy on another tragedy. The late Mr Riordan’s son, John, 32, was killed in a road traffic accident on the June bank holiday weekend, near Beaufort, Co Kerry.