A TEENAGER plunged 50ft to his death while hopping over rooftops at a construction site after a night out.
Harry Calam and his two friends jumped over a fence at a construction site and scaled a scaffolding tower in Daveygate, York, on June 24.
Ben LackHarry Calam died after a night out drinking in York[/caption]
SWNSHarry tragically died of a traumatic brain injury[/caption]
SWNSFloral tributes to the teenager in Little Stonegate, York[/caption]
The 19-year-old and his pals wanted to reach a rooftop above a row of retail units so they could look down at the bar where he worked.
An inquest heard Harry, who loved adventure according to his devastated mum, had been moving from one roof to another as the pals tried to get a “cool view”.
But then tragedy struck as Harry fell off one ledge wrongly thinking there was a lower rooftop below.
Harry and two friends he worked with, along with others from neighbouring bars, had gone out for drinks in York after finishing work on the night of June 23 last year.
After finishing their final drinks at 4am, the group were chatting at a nearby McDonald’s.
As they left, Alfred Miller, who had worked with Harry for nine months prior to his death, went to a construction fence in the Daveygate area to urinate.
He mentioned he had already climbed the fence and walked up the scaffolding to a shared roof above some retailers.
Alfred encouraged Harry and the other friend to join him to observe the view, the court heard.
The friend climbed over the fence into the construction site and Harry followed him, while the other friend stayed in the street.
The pair climbed up to the roof of the building then called for the other man to join them, which he did.
The roof area was large with parts at different heights and the three lads began “hopping” between the levels on the hot dry night, North Allerton Coroner’s Court heard.
After about 15 minutes, the two other friends walked across the roof to see if they could look at their workplace, Kennedy’s Bar and Restaurant, down below in Little Stonegate.
They looked back to see Harry swing his legs over a ledge and drop to what he thought was the floor beneath.
“Unfortunately, the roof level was not there, and Harry fell to the ground below,” Coroner Alison Norton said.
The two friends walked to the edge of the roof and were horrified to see Mr Calam lying motionless below.
They rushed down to their friend, who was not moving, and dialled 999.
But despite their desperate attempts to revive him Harry had suffered devastating brain injuries and was pronounced dead at 4.40am.
Tests revealed Harry was twice the legal drink drive limit, the court heard.
TRAGIC DEATH
Assistant Coroner Alison Norton recorded a conclusion of death by misadventure.
In a statement read to the inquest his mother, Eileen Calam, said her son had a love of the outdoors and adventure.
She said he had been “very happy” and was enjoying making new friends.
A statement from Det Sgt Dodson said police had investigated the health and safety of the construction site.
He said the scaffolding tower had been a solid structure with a staircase, the entrance had been fenced off from the public with clear signage and there were appropriate safety railings on the part of the roof being worked on.
Dt Sgt Dodson found there had been “no suspicious circumstances or third party involvement”.
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