In a tragic incident, 74-year-old millionaire businessman Henry Thirsk was killed by his own Range Rover, which he had accidentally left in reverse, an inquest revealed. The accident occurred in 2022.
Thirsk’s wife, Sarah-Jane, initially mistook her husband’s body for bags before urgently attempting CPR as emergency services arrived at their Everingham, East Yorkshire home.
At the Hull Coroners Court, Senior Coroner Paul Marks ruled that Thirsk’s death was accidental and no one was at fault.
Coroner Marks explained that Thirsk had left the vehicle running in a field, got out, and opened the rear door. Due to the vehicle creeping forward and the lack of an engaged electronic parking brake, it ran over Thirsk, causing fatal chest injuries.
Sarah-Jane Thirsk had seen her husband’s car lights from the bathroom window at 9:30 p.m. on the night of his death. She initially thought the items near the garage were sacks, only to discover they were her husband’s body. Overcome with grief, she performed CPR until help arrived.
Henry and Sarah-Jane had been together for about 18 years and had married during the pandemic. Despite some previous health issues, Henry’s condition was generally stable.
Earlier that day, Sarah-Jane had used Henry’s Rolls Royce to drive a friend to a medical appointment before returning home to find Henry.
Later, she noticed the headlights of his Range Rover and went to check, discovering the tragic scene. She called neighbor George Cooper, who arrived and administered CPR until paramedics took over.
Sarah-Jane was questioned about moving the car and photographing Henry’s injuries, explaining that she did so to show him later and to clear the area for the air ambulance.
Pathologist Dr. Christopher Johnson confirmed that Henry’s injuries were consistent with being run over by a vehicle.
The official cause of death was ruled as “chest injuries from a vehicle run over.”
