Traveller killed near Cambridge after mobile home topples on his head - Cambridgeshire

From the Cambridge News

A Traveller was killed when his mobile home fell on him.

Joe Lee, 55, whose passion was restoring a Vickers vintage Gypsy caravan, was underneath the home in Green End, Landbeach, when it toppled over, crushing his head.

Tributes have been paid to the father-of-three with the “heart of gold” and thousands of mourners are expected at his Gypsy funeral on Monday, which is set to be the “biggest the city has ever seen”, according to his friends.

Mr Lee, who lived in Landbeach for more than 30 years, was working on the mobile home when a jack which was holding it up failed, and the structure fell on top of him.

Cambridgeshire police and the East of England Ambulance Service, along with emergency medical charity Magpas, were called to the incident.

Paramedics fought to save Mr Lee’s life as his son Joe looked on. But despite their efforts Mr Lee, who ran Overbrook Nursery in the village, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The grandfather-of-seven, whose father Joe fought at Dunkirk and in the desert during the Second World War, leaves his wife Julie, 56, son Joe, 25, two daughters, Sadie and Tina, and his sister Sally.

Joe told the News: “My mum is in bits. He was her soulmate. The whole Traveller community is in shock. My dad was a friend to everyone. He was a legend. He was the heart of the Lees and was a friend to thousands of people.

“Everyone went to him for advice and he would help anyone. He never said a bad word about anyone. He was my guide and was loved by everyone and there will be thousands of people at the funeral.”

Nelson O’Connor, 40, of Chesterton, told the News: “Joe was the kindest man. He had a heart of gold. The community is devastated. Joe was a legend and his funeral will be the biggest among Travellers that Cambridge has ever seen.

“There will be lorries and trucks coming from all over the country. There will be a huge floral tribute on a lorry with the word ‘Legend’.

“Joe was jacking up the mobile home when it slipped and it toppled on his head. He died instantly. It’s a terrible tragedy.”

An ambulance service spokesman said: “We were called at 8.46pm to a man in cardiac arrest and serious head injuries with a rapid response vehicle, ambulance and a land crew from Magpas attending.

“Ambulance crews did everything they could to try and revive the man but he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.”

The tragedy happened just before 9pm on June 19. An inquest was opened and adjourned, after police ruled out any suspicious circumstances. The cause of death was “head injury”.

Mr Lee’s funeral will be at St Andrew’s Church in Church Street, Chesterton at 11am, followed by a burial at Milton Parish Cemetery, near Landbeach.

see also: The Daily Mail - Gypsy grandfather who died when his vintage caravan fell off its jack and crushed him is buried