Family have 'unanswered questions' after bin lorry death

The family of a man who died after he was crushed in the back of a refuse lorry after sleeping in a bin, say they still have "unanswered questions".

The inquest at Northampton Coroner's Court on Wednesday heard that Sajmir Beca suffered extensive crush injuries on Wellington Street in Northampton in the early hours of 31 October 2025.

The 30-year-old died of multiple organ failure on 6 November at University Hospital Coventry.

Speaking outside the court, the family solicitor Fabjola Aruci said: "The family have been left with many unanswered questions [about why Beca was in the bin] but they will pursue justice for Sajmir until the end."

The coroner's court heard how the driver, Stephen Plowman, was operating the lorry to pick up a bin with an orange lid and did not notice "anything out of the ordinary".

It was told that once he activated the crushing mechanism, the lorry driver "started to hear screams" but could not tell where the sound was coming from.

He went round to look at the bin to see "a face looking [at him], screaming" and described his own shock and started screaming himself.

After pressing the emergency stop button, and phoning emergency services, police arrived at about 03:00 GMT on 31 October.

Plowman told the hearing he still felt "shocked and upset", struggled to sleep and was worried he could no longer do his job properly because of the trauma.

Beca was taken to intensive care at University Hospital Coventry and was sedated and resuscitated.

A medical statement read to the court said he would "certainly die despite support".

The inquest also heard that Beca had moved from Albania to Northampton, working as a labourer after training as a mechanic.

His family described him as a "loving person who always had a smile to share" and someone who "exuded kindness".

Concluding the inquest, senior coroner for Northamptonshire Anne Pember recorded a conclusion of accidental death.

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