A father today spoke of his pride for his son who was electrocuted.

Thirteen-year-old Simon Boutflour died after a pipe he was upending touched an overhead 33,000-volt power cable at the family farm in Spinnels Lane, Wix.

At the inquest into his death in Chelmsford yesterday, Simon's father David - who was helping to move the pipe - told how proud he was of his son.

Speaking about the day he died, on July 31, Mr Boutflour said: "Simon was with me, as he often was. He was my shadow.

"I'm proud of all my children but at farm work Simon excelled. He was a joy to all who met him."

The pipe was being lifted to tip out a rabbit. Mr Boutflour was also holding the pipe but survived.

He told the inquest: "I felt an awful shock in my hand. I was paralysed. I heard Simon say 'Help me dad, I'm dying'. I couldn't help my son. I was blind and stuck like a statue."

Mr Boutflour began giving Simon first aid, then tried to carry him to the house.

He said today: "I prayed to God that He would save Simon telling Him that I would go to church for the rest of my life."

Essex Air Ambulance took no more than 20 minutes to get to the farm, but Mr Boutflour said: "It seemed like an eternity."

Simon was certified dead shortly after arriving at hospital. The jury at his inquest returned a verdict of accidental death.

Health and Safety inspector Steven Hook said the cables were well above the required height but Mr Boutflour asked for them to be raised higher.

He said: "If a little good can come from tragedy then maybe Simon's death won't be a total loss."

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