A verdict of accidental death has been returned in the inquest into the death of a five-year-old boy who died when he fell off a quad bike driven by his grandfather in Cloghane, Daingean Uí Chúis, in August 2023.
The quad bike was towing a motorised mower, which George Francis 'Freddie' Davenport had fallen into, the inquest at the Kerry West Coroner’s Court in Tralee was told.
The accident had been "a horrific experience" for the entire family, west Kerry Coroner Helen Lucey said.
But it was an accident, she stressed.
Two other children who were also on the quad bike were uninjured, the inquest heard.
Death would have been "immediate" and he would not have suffered, Pathologist Dr Margot Anne Bolster told the family at the inquest.
In a brief summary of the autopsy she carried out on 7 August at University Hospital, Dr Bolster said the boy had suffered very severe head injuries and injuries to his leg.
Ms Lucey returned a verdict of accidental death.
George Francis Davenport, known as Freddie, of Folkstone, Kent, died on 6 August 2023 at Liscarney, Cloghane.
The cause of death - in line with the evidence of Dr Bolster - was polytrauma with severe traumatic brain injury due to roll-over injuries by a motorised vehicle.
Ms Lucey offered her deepest sympathy to his parents Laura and David, the grandparents and grand uncle and all the Brown and Davenport families.
"Words cannot describe it," the coroner said.
The only comfort was death was instantaneous, and he would not have suffered, she said.
This was a tragic accident and horrific for the entire family, Ms Lucey said.
"You would have to have a heart of stone not to be touched," she said.
The first witness was Frank Browne, the child’s grandfather, of Liscarney, Cloghane,
His deposition, read for him by Sergeant Shane Thornton, said he was cutting grass at home and his grandson George was with him and sitting on the quad bike behind him.
Two other children were also on the quad and he was driving slowly as he had Goerge with him.
"When I looked around, George was gone," he said. He jumped off and there was no sign of the child, he said.
When he found him in the mower he could see straight away he was dead.
Neighbour Paul O’Donnell, who was summoned to help, arrived on the scene and checked and could not find any sign of life.
The quad was a 350cc to 400cc machine and an engine driven mower was being towed by the quad, he said.
In his deposition Brendan Ferriter, Station Officer with Dingle Fire Service, said at 4pm, he got a call to attend the scene at Liscarney where a child had fallen off a quad bike under a lawnmower.
Death was pronounced at the scene by a doctor from Annascaul on duty for South Doc, the inquest was told.
