A 71 year old retired agricultural engineer died after his tractor tipped off a bridge at a farm in Down Ampney, nr Cirencester, and he lay trapped beneath it for hours, an inquest heard yesterday.

Michael Brunsdon of Pauls Croft, Cricklade, had gone to Manor Farm, Down Ampney, on 11 August last year and when he didn't return that evening his stepdaughter Vivienne Hansford raised the alarm.

The Gloucester inquest heard Sgt Edward Strange started a search at the farm and discovered Mr Brunsdon's car with the bonnet up. The workshop had been left open as if he had left in a hurry or an emergency.

Further search found a vintage type tractor upside down in a ditch and Mr Brunsdon was underneath it.

Sgt Strange said Mr Brunsdon had his legs trapped but was conscious. Mr Brunsdon told Sgt Strange he was thirsty and cold and thought he had been trapped since about 2pm.

Sgt Strange said he could not access Mr Brunsdon's injuries but managed to put a blanket round him.

He asked Mr Brunsdon what happened and he replied he didn't know as it all happened so fast but said "I have done it this time."

Sgt Warren Knight, who also attended, established that Mr Brunsdon had been working on the tractor that day. It had appeared that as Mr Brunsdon crossed the bridge in the tractor the wheels went over the edge and it tipped over

The Fire and Rescue service lifted the tractor and Mr Brunsdon was taken to the hospital. Throughout rescue he had been reported to be awake but in a lot of pain.

When Mr Brunsdon was released he went into shock and lost consciousness and was resusciated. At the hospital he was diagnosed to be clinically in circulatory shock and his left leg could not be saved.

Surgeons carried out an above knee amputation and Mr Brunsdon was moved to intensive care.

At that point he was requiring a lot of fluid due to circulation problems and was bleeding from the amputation site. His condition deteriorated as the bleeding later accelerated and it was agreed that no further medical intervention would be successful and his prognosis was poor.

Surgeons spoke with the family and confirmed it was extremely unlikely he would survive and if he continued to deteriorate they would move to him palliative care.

At 1:30am on 13 August treatment was stopped and Mr Brunsdon passed away at 2:15am.

The post mortem revealed that Mr Brunsdon had died as a result of major organ failure caused by a reperfusion injury due to the crushing of his left leg.

Assistant Gloucestershire Coroner Caroline Saunders said "When Mr Brunsdon failed to return the alarm was raised and emergency services attended Manor Farm where he was found pinned under the seat of the tractor.

"The exact circumstances as to how he appeared in those circumstances is unknown but he had been lying in that position for some time.

"Miraculously and probably due to his own fortitude he had survived.

"The main problem was the crushing injury and an amputation was entirely necessary. Unfortunately it was not possible to stabilise him after surgery and he died as a result of complications of a necessary surgery. Therefore I record a conclusion of accidental death.