Andrew Sykes was not wearing seatbelt, on phone, coroner rules

A beloved Tasmanian farmhand, father and stepfather was thrown from his vehicle when he failed to negotiate a 35-degree bend in the road, a coroner has ruled.

A Tasmanian coroner has ruled “inattention” and a lack of seatbelt were the primary causes of a 33-year-old farmhand’s death in a vehicle rollover on Flinders Island.

According to coroner Olivia McTaggart’s report, Andrew Sykes, who had recently moved to Flinders Island from the Launceston area with his wife, daughter and two stepchildren, was driving his work utility on gravel-topped Wingaroo Rd, Memana, when he lost control about 6pm on May 10 last year.

“Mr Sykes lost control of his vehicle as he came to a 35 degree right-hand bend with the wheels entering the soft verge on the left side of the road,” Ms McTaggart ruled.

“This caused the vehicle to slide sideways before leaving the road on the same side, flattening a guidepost, rolling several times and coming to rest on its roof on the grassy slope of the roadside embankment.

“Mr Sykes, who was not wearing his seatbelt, was thrown through the driver’s side window during the rollover and came to rest 17m further on from the final resting place of the vehicle.

“The evidence indicates that inattention on the part of Mr Sykes caused the crash.

“He had been using his handheld mobile phone in the vehicle and it is possible that he was distracted by using the phone when he lost control of the vehicle.”

Mr Sykes was discovered alive and flown to the Royal Hobart Hospital, where he was assessed as sustaining brain injuries and subsequently underwent surgery.

His condition subsequently deteriorated into a “vegetative state” and he died on June 28 last year.

Ms McTaggart concluded a seatbelt would have saved Mr Sykes’ life.

“It is likely that the death of Mr Sykes could have been prevented if he had taken the simple

safety precaution of wearing his seatbelt,” she ruled.

“If he had, I doubt that he would have been thrown from the vehicle and suffered his fatal injuries.

“I hope that his tragic death reminds others that wearing a seatbelt may save their lives.”

A GoFundMe established by family friend Tia Rubenach in the wake of Mr Sykes’ accident raised $61,800 for the family.

Ms Rubenach described Mr Sykes as a “great bloke (who would) have a go at fixing anything”.