HSE probe after North Staffordshire tyre-fitter, 21, killed in M56 tragedy

RIP Niall

Gary Porter West Midlands Content Editor for StokeOnTrentLive 06:00, 17 Mar 2026

Niall Fawcett

An investigation into the death of a 21-year-old North Staffordshire tyre-fitter remains ongoing. Niall Fawcett, of Talke, was changing a tyre on a lorry on the hard shoulder of the M56 in Cheshire when the front tractor unit of the vehicle fell on him.

An air ambulance was sent to the incident on the slip-road at junction 7.

But sadly Niall - who was known as Stumpy - was pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident happened shortly before 8.30pm on August 2, 2024.

An inquest was opened and adjourned on August 21, 2024.

The inquest has still to be concluded and it has now been suspended for a further six months as a result of an ongoing Health and Safety Executive investigation.

An internal review of the case is scheduled to take place on August 26.

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