Death of boy who fell off ute an accident - inquest

Maria and Dion Kilmister with a photo of their son Jayden, killed near the family farm at Bideford. Photo / Wairarapa Times-Age

The death of a teenager after he was blown off the back of his family's farm ute near Masterton last year was accidental, a coroner has ruled.

Jayden Kilmister, aged 15, was standing on the back of the farmbike holding down furniture on July 21 last year when a "freak" gust of wind blew him and the load off the ute.

Jayden banged his head on the road and was unable to be revived.

The ute's driver, farm worker Adrian Wildman, was later convicted of operating a vehicle carelessly causing death, disqualified from driving for six months and ordered to pay $4000 reparation..

Wellington Regional Coroner Ian Smith ruled it was a "tragic" accident and highlighted the unsafe practices which led up to Jayden's death.

- NZPA