David Woodhouse inquest rules tragedy was 'accident'

David Woodhouse, 69, became trapped under the vehicle after it toppled into the water feature at his home in Westfield, near Dereham.

His wife, Jacqueline, had been walking the dog near the home and went to investigate when she could not hear the sound of the mower.

She jumped into the pond and, with the efforts of neighbours and family members, managed to free him and start giving CPR until an ambulance crew arrived.

Mr Woodhouse was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, where he died three days later.

At an inquest into his death, at Norfolk Coroner’s Court, this week, Mrs Woodhouse paid tribute to her husband, to whom she had been married for 42 years.

David Woody Woodhouse died at his home following a tragic accident (Image: Courtesy of family)

"He was the love of my life, and we were very happy, he was an amazing person," she added.

“He was my everything and my best friend. He was my first and only boyfriend – I had been with him since I was aged 16."

She said that on the evening of the tragedy, Friday, August 23, the couple had had a light dinner together before watching the local weather report on television.

After hearing that rain was predicted for the following day, Mr Woodhouse decided to mow the lawn shortly after 6.30pm that evening.

“I decided to walk our dog and as I left the house, we waved at each other," she said.

“I popped in next door [to run an errand]. I was gone five minutes at the most.

“As I was walking past our drive, I realised that the lawn mower - a ride-on type - was not going, so I popped back home to see David.

“I walked around our back garden. As I approached the pond at the front of the house, I could see the lawn mower upside down in the pond.

“It wasn’t until I got really close to the edge of the pond that I could see him there.”

Norfolk Coroner's Court (Image: Newsquest)

Norfolk's senior coroner Jacqueline Lake (Image: Newsquest)

The inquest into his death heard that Mr Woodhouse died at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, on Monday, August 26.

The medical cause of death was given as hypoxic ischemic brain injury due to accidental drowning. 

Senior coroner Jacqueline Lake recorded the official cause of death as “accidental”.  

She said: “Mr Woodhouse was cutting the grass at his home using a ride-on lawn mower. He was later found unresponsive in a pond with a lawn mower on top of him.  

“Mr Woodhouse was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital where he died.”  

Norfolk and Norwich Hospital (Image: Norfolk and Norfolk University Hospital)

"HE WAS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE"

Born in Norwich on May 22, 1955, David John Woodhouse - known affectionately as 'Woody' - began working in the Dereham area from the age of 15. 

His wife, who he had been with for 47 years, said he was incredibly well-known in the community in which he was born, raised, and lived in. 

She added: “He knew loads of people as he has always lived and worked in the area. 

“David was a hard-working, healthy man. At 69-years-old, he put the younger men at work to shame with his stamina and work ethic.” 

READ MORE: To read all obituaries and tributes join the Facebook group Norfolk's Loved & Lost.

But it will be his devotion to his family he will be most remembered for. 

Mrs Woodhouse added: “He was much-loved by myself and his family.  

“He was a really lovely man, he was the love of my life, and we were very happy, he was an amazing person. 

“He was a very loving and devoted husband, father, father-in-law, and grandfather. 

“He was just amazing. 

“He was my everything and my best friend. He was my first and only boyfriend – I had been with him since I was aged 16. 

“He was just utterly devoted to his wife and his family.”

A funeral service and interment for the father-of-three and grandfather will take place at S.S. Peter and Paul Church in Scarning on Friday, September 20 at 11.30 a.m.

Family flowers only but donations, if desired, for the East Anglian Air Ambulance may be given at the service or via W C Littleproud & Son in Dereham.

• To pay tribute to a loved one, email norfolkobituaries@newsquest.co.uk