A man was crushed to death by a car while trying to steal a catalytic converter, an inquest in Wales has heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daniel Stephens, 25, of Blaenavon, Torfaen, was found beneath a BMW in a car park on High Street, Cymmer, Rhondda Cynon Taf, on 12 August, at about 06:00 BST.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He died after the jack he had been using to hold the car collapsed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The car\u2019s owner told the inquest in Pontypridd he noticed Mr Stephens\u2019 legs protruding from under his BMW.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russel Seldon said, after finding Mr Stephens with no signs of life under his car, he called emergency services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PC Leah Jeffries, who was at the scene, told the inquest Mr Stephens was \u201ccold and stiff\u201d and she could see his \u201cchest was crushed\u201d when the car was raised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was then she noticed a car jack and torch alongside his body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Stephens\u2019 friend Aron Godfrey, with whom he had been living in Ynysybwl weeks before he died, told the inquest Mr Stephens had been \u201cdown and stressed\u201d because he needed money for a court case to try and get more access to his children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Mr Godfrey told his friend \u201cnot to do anything stupid\u201d, Mr Stephens planned to steal a catalytic converter from a BMW in Cymmer because he knew he could sell it, he told the coroner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At about 01:00, Mr Godfrey said he heard a car drive off, assuming it was his close friend leaving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After waking at 05:00 to see Mr Stephens had not returned, he said he drove to Cymmer and saw people standing around the car and emergency services arriving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI knew it was Daniel,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following a post-mortem examination, the cause of death was determined as \u201ccrush asphyxia\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Low levels of the drug Tramadol and alcohol were also found in Daniel Stephens\u2019 blood, with assistant coroner Rachel Knight reaching a conclusion of accidental death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She expressed her condolences to Mr Stephens\u2019 family and friends, adding: \u201cIt is evident he is greatly missed by many people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n