A FATHER has relived the horrifying moment he watched helplessly as his son crashed through a garage roof and plunged to his death.

Raymond Pablo told an inquest that one second he was talking to his son, Wayne, 35 and the next he disappeared through the asbestos roof.

"There was no warning at all," said Mr Pablo, of Preston Old Road, Cherry Tree, Blackburn.

The tragedy on April 3 was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive and inspector Charles Cottle said the incident highlighted the need for extreme caution when working on a roof.

"People do not realise just how fragile these fibre and cement roofs are, especially when they have aged," said Mr Cottle. "Even when new, they are regarded as fragile and when they have aged under sunlight and weather they are extremely brittle.

"Anyone going on to such a roof should think very carefully about how they are going to do so safely," added Mr Cottle.

Mr Pablo told the inquest that Wayne, who lived at home, had bought the industrial unit at the rear of Feniscliffe Drive and planned to transfer his car repair business there.

Mr Pablo said the roof leaked and he had carried out repairs, replacing several perspex roofing sheets and some asbestos sheets.

He had used a ladder to get on to the roof and had worked off a shorter ladder to spread his weight.

Mr Pablo said he had all but finished when Wayne came up and asked how he wasdoing.

"Wayne was standing on the front of the roof and I was explaining what I had been doing," said Mr Pablo. "While I was talking to him he went through the roof."

Wayne fell 20 feet to the concrete floor and suffered severe head injuries. He underwent brain surgery at Royal Preston Hospital but died on April 21.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner Michael Singleton said there were lessons to be learned from the tragedy.

"Roofs of this kind are very dangerous places and any repairs ought to be carried out by experts who can take the appropriate measures to ensure safety," said Mr Singleton. "It is a very bitter lesson to learn in these circumstances."