Golf club greenkeeper died when tree he was cutting fell on top of him

Golf club greenkeeper, 35, was found dead by his girlfriend after a poplar tree he was cutting fell on top of him and fractured his skull, inquest hears

  • Father-of-one Martin Davenport, 35, died after a tree fell and hit him in the head 
  • The golf club greenkeeper’s body was discovered by his girlfriend and her father 
  • He suffered a fractured skull and brain haemorrhage after being hit by the tree 

A golf club greenkeeper died after a poplar tree he was cutting fell on his head and fractured his skull, with his girlfriend and her father later finding his body.  

Father-of-one Martin Davenport, 35, most likely died instantly when the tree hit him in Christleton, Cheshire on January 7 last year.

A jury inquest at Warrington Coroner’s Court yesterday was told that Mr Davenport suffered a fractured skull and brain haemorrhage. 

His body was later discovered by his girlfriend Megan Grindley and her father when they went to search for him.

Father-of-one Martin Davenport, 35, most likely died instantly when the tree he was cutting hit him in the head

A jury inquest is required by law if a death occurs following an accident at work.   

Mr Davenport, from Kelsall, Cheshire, worked as a greenkeeper at Eaton Golf Club in Waverton but was acting as a self-employed contractor when he was hired to cut down poplar trees.

Health and Safety Executive inspector Simon Bland said the tree involved was leaning, causing it to act like a ‘spring’ with compression on one side and tension on the side nearest Mr Davenport.


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The trunk then split and kicked out.

Mr Bland said: ‘Unfortunately Martin was in the vicinity of where that tree kicked out at the base so he received a blow to the head.’

Mr Bland said he was happy with the tree felling training Mr Davenport had received through his golf club job and the equipment he was using.

Mr Davenport is survived by his parents Kathy and Shane, sister Sian and his nine-year-old daughter Isabelle.

He had remained friends with her mother Laura, from whom he was separated. 

He worked as a greenkeeper at Eaton Golf Club in Waverton but was acting as a self-employed contractor when he was hired to cut down poplar trees

Kathy Davenport, who gave evidence, said: ‘He was a busy, hard-working young man who adored his little girl and was always trying to support her as best he could.

‘He was kind to us and everybody seemed to like him.’ 

Eaton Golf Club head greenkeeper Gavin Clarke, who was Mr Davenport’s boss, described him as ‘a great worker’ with ‘a really good skill set’.

The jury found Mr Davenport suffered a fatal blow to the head because the tree fell and split in ‘an uncontrolled manner’.

With the direction of Cheshire area coroner Claire Welch, they concluded Mr Davenport died from an accident.

Ms Welch told the family: ‘I offer you my heartfelt condolences. It’s clear to me from the evidence that I heard during the course of the inquest today how loved and liked Martin was, seemingly by all those who knew him.’

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