An inquest has opened into the death of a construction worker understood to have been electrocuted when he struck a live wire with a shovel.  

Billy Davis, 42, died at the site of the project in Ramsey Heights, near Ramsey, on March 12.  

A witness explained that he was working on groundworks in the area at the time using a digger and a shovel. 

Caroline Jones, an area coroner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: “It is thought he used a shovel when he struck a live wire resulting in electrocution. 

“He was seen to fall to the floor and become unresponsive.... resuscitation attempts were conducted by the ambulance, however, death was pronounced at the scene at 2045 hours. 

“He was examined further at Peterborough City Hospital with no suspicious injuries were present.”  

The inquest was opened on April 23 at Lawrence Court, in Huntingdon, where the cause of death was given as unascertained. 

The exact location of the incident was not revealed during the brief hearing. 

Ms Jones explained UK Power Networks, which maintains the area’s electricity networks, is compiling a forensic report of the site following the incident. 

Mr Davis' inquest has been adjourned for a date to be fixed.