A devoted enthusiast of classic cars tragically lost his life after being crushed under his sports car while working in his garage. The spouse of John Philip Waterson made the heartbreaking discovery of his body at their residence in Langton, near Darlington, Co Durham. The incident occurred when the compact sports car, which had been stored at his home for a decade, unexpectedly collapsed on him.
Waterson, aged 65, sustained fatal injuries to his head and chest, leading to his immediate death. His wife, Amanda, found him in the garage upon her return on June 23. She expressed that it was a routine day when she left for work in the morning and came back in the afternoon to discover the tragic event. Amanda described John as a well-regarded individual among his friends and colleagues, who were deeply shocked and saddened by the unfortunate accident.
Emergency responders reported finding the classic sports car on top of Waterson upon arrival. It was suspected that the vehicle had been lifted using a jack and supports, but these devices were not in place when the incident occurred. Despite efforts to rescue him, Waterson was pronounced dead by a medical professional from the Great North Air Ambulance at 3:30 pm.
Following a postmortem examination, the pathologist identified crush injuries as the cause of Waterson’s death, with a severe impact on his heart. Authorities could not determine the exact circumstances that led to the car falling on him, stating that the supporting equipment appeared to have dislodged, resulting in the tragic accident.
The official cause of Waterson’s death was recorded as crush injuries sustained from the vehicle collapsing on him unexpectedly. Although the vehicle was described as a small sports car, specific details about its make and model were not provided. The incident was characterized as a deeply unfortunate accident by the assistant coroner, emphasizing the unpredictability of the situation.
The property where the accident occurred was unoccupied at the time, featuring a sizable garage where Waterson frequently worked on his collection of cars. A neighbor expressed sorrow over the incident, highlighting Waterson’s helpful and friendly nature.
In a message posted on social media, David Whitehurst Racing conveyed condolences for Waterson’s passing, acknowledging the tragic circumstances and offering thoughts for his family during this difficult time.
