AN investigation has been launched after a young farm worker died after being crushed by machinery in a barn.

Thomas Dendy, 21, had been working at Shadrack farm at Berry Pomeroy near Totnes on April 30 this year.

An inquest opened in Exeter today heard that he had not been seen or answered his phone for around 90 minutes and numerous attempts were made to contact him.

Thomas, who lived in Newton Abbot, was located in a barn and had become pinned between a chassis and draw bar of a parked hydraulic trailer.

He was freed by emergency crews but died from chest wounds at the scene.

Area coroner Nicholas Lane said that a joint police and Health and Safety Executive investigation is underway and a jury inquest will be held later into the work related death.