Key Points
- 56-year-old Andrew Winston Lloyd, a lorry driver and businessman from Bod Elian, Llanelian, Conwy, passed away following contact between the grab arm of his truck and 11,000 volt overhead power cables.
- The accident happened on 1st May 2025 at Tan y Dderwen Farm, Betws-yn-Rhos, Conwy, where Mr Lloyd was delivering hardcore for construction of shed foundation.
- Mr Lloyd descended from the cabin and came into contact with the metal steps of the truck, resulting in electrocution.
- His 14-year-old son, whose name is not mentioned because of legal constraints, was present in the lorry during work experience and tried to warn Mr Lloyd before getting out of the cabin.
- Contractors on the site claimed the presence of flames from the rear tyres of the lorry and the boots of Mr Lloyd; one of them gave him CPR, another one called ambulance while the other helped his teenage son to get out of the cabin.
- Dr Mark Atkinson, Pathologist, certified electrocution as the cause of death.
- According to Scottish Power engineer Devon Locke’s evidence, the overhead line tripped and was switched off but not isolated.
- Senior Coroner John Gittins concluded accidental death on 3rd November 2026 at Ruthin Coroner’s Court.
Wales (Wales Times) November 4, 2026 – A Conwy lorry driver and family-business owner died after the grab arm of his tipper lorry struck 11,000-volt overhead cables during a delivery at a farm, an inquest has heard.
As reported by the BBC, Andrew Winston Lloyd, known as Andy Lloyd, was delivering a load of hardcore to Tan y Dderwen Farm in Betws-yn-uk/local/wrexham/rhos/">Rhos with his 14-year-old son when the grab arm on his truck came into contact with overhead cables.
The inquest at Ruthin Coroner’s Court heard that Mr Lloyd had moved the lorry closer to contractors who were erecting a shed so that he could tip the load. As reported by the BBC, his son said the grab arm hit the power line during unloading.
Mr Lloyd, aged 56, then climbed down from the cab and was electrocuted when he came into contact with the metal step.
He was pronounced dead at the scene on 1 May 2025.
How did witnesses respond?
The inquest heard that contractors working nearby saw the incident unfold. As reported by the BBC, witnesses described flames coming from the rear tyres of the lorry and from Mr Lloyd’s boots before he collapsed.
The Rhyl Journal reported that one contractor said he shouted for Mr Lloyd to stop from about 20 metres away and saw a tyre burning. The same report stated that another witness saw Mr Lloyd jump from the cab, reach for the controls and collapse.
One contractor performed CPR on Mr Lloyd, another called an ambulance, and a third helped Mr Lloyd’s son leave the cab safely.
As reported by the BBC, paramedics arrived “in a matter of minutes”.
What did the power engineer say?
The inquest heard evidence from Devon Locke, a Scottish Power engineer who attended the scene after the electricity supply tripped.
As reported by the Rhyl Journal, Mr Locke said in his statement: “The arm of a lorry had come into contact with an overhead line.” He added: “The line was off but not isolated. This involved controlling the area.”
Mr Locke said he knew the line was off because it had tripped. He said that, after asking a paramedic whether everyone was safe, he was told that someone had been electrocuted and had died.
The BBC reported that, although the power had tripped, plans were made to make the line safe.
What was the cause of death?
Pathologist Dr Mark Atkinson confirmed that Mr Lloyd’s cause of death was electrocution.
Senior Coroner for North Wales East and Central John Gittins recorded a conclusion of accidental death.
As reported by the BBC, the coroner offered condolences to Mr Lloyd’s family.
Who was Andrew Winston Lloyd?
Mr Lloyd was from Bod Elian, Llanelian, in Conwy, and ran AWL Contractors Ltd, a family business.
The Rhyl Journal reported that he was a former Denbigh High School pupil and bought his first digger more than 20 years ago, which led to the establishment of AWL Contractors Ltd. The report said he had a lasting interest in trucks and heavy machinery.
Reading a statement from Mr Lloyd’s partner, Hayley Lloyd, the coroner said Mr Lloyd “had a huge amount of respect for people who worked for him, especially his drivers”.
Ms Lloyd said her partner cared “quietly but fiercely for those around him” and had a “quiet strength”.
The inquest heard that Mr Lloyd and Ms Lloyd were due to marry on 29 May 2025, but the wedding did not take place.
Ms Lloyd said Mr Lloyd’s “last moments were spent in his truck with his son beside him”.
What did the coroner conclude?
The coroner concluded that Mr Lloyd died as a result of an accident.
Mr Gittins told the family:
“It is very clear that this is a gentleman who is hugely missed by every single one of you.”
The inquest heard that Mr Lloyd’s son had joined him that day to gain work experience.
Background of the development
The fatal incident occurred on 1 May 2025, but the details were heard at Ruthin Coroner’s Court on 3 November 2026.
The case involved a tipper lorry fitted with a grab arm, which was being used to unload hardcore intended as a foundation for a shed.
The evidence heard at the inquest established that the lorry’s grab arm made contact with an 11,000-volt overhead cable.
The coroner recorded an accidental-death conclusion rather than any other verdict.
Prediction: How this may affect lorry drivers and farm operators
For lorry drivers, agricultural workers and farm operators in North Wales, the inquest is likely to reinforce the importance of checking for overhead power lines before positioning or operating vehicles with raised arms, buckets or tipping bodies. The evidence showed that contact with an overhead cable can energise the vehicle and create a danger for anyone touching it, including a driver leaving the cab.
For employers and contractors, the case may prompt closer review of delivery plans at farms and construction sites, particularly where machinery must operate beneath or near power lines. The inquest heard that the line had tripped after contact but was not isolated, underlining the need for emergency responders and network operators to control the area before anyone approaches affected equipment.
For Mr Lloyd’s family, employees and local business community, the coroner’s finding of accidental death provides a formal account of the incident, while the tributes read in court recorded the personal loss to his partner, son and workforce.
