Everton fan Michael Jones died after being trapped by machinery at Bramley-Moore Dock stadium

Everton fan Michael Jones died after being caught between a beam and a piece of machinery while working at the construction site of the club’s new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, an inquest has heard.

The life-long Blue, 26, whose middle name was Goodison, suffered severe head injuries during the incident and was pronounced dead in hospital on August 14. Fans paid tribute to the ventilation engineer from Kirkby ahead of Everton‘s home game against Wolves on Saturday.

An inquest into the death of Mr Jones was opened on Wednesday at Gerard Majella Courthouse in Liverpool. Senior coroner Andrew Rebello told the court: "Michael had been operating a machine commonly known as a scissor ladder. He was caught between the beam above him and the machine."

The court heard that Mr Jones had been wearing a hard hat, which was damaged in the incident.

Mr Rebello said: "A colleague noticed Michael’s lift had stopped. He climbed on to Michael’s lift and moved it forward. This released Michael and this revealed severe head injuries. He was lifted to the ground and provided with first aid until an ambulance arrived, when he was transported to hospital where tragically he was certified as having died."

A post-mortem examination has been carried out and a report from the pathologist will be available after toxicology results. Mr Rebello said this was routine and there was no concern that Mr Jones had any substances in his system at the time of the incident.

Mr Rebello said Mr Jones’ employer, Mersey Vent Ltd, and the stadium contractor, Laing O’Rourke, will be recognised as interested persons at the inquest. The case was adjourned until February 29 next year. Merseyside Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are working together to investigate the incident.