The son of a care home worker who died after being crushed in a lift has spoken out after a jury ruled a £1,100 sensor could have prevented the tragedy.

Simon Daws was speaking after the inquest into the death of Joan Daws concluded today.

The 64-year-old grandmother became trapped in a lift while transporting a weighing chair at the Laleham care home in Central Parade, Herne Bay.

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It snagged as the tiny lift - which measured less than a metre square - went down, pinning her to the back wall.

Staff heard her pleading "help me I can’t breathe", but by the time firefighters reached and freed her, she had suffered traumatic asphyxia and died five days later in hospital with severe brain damage and broken ribs.

Today the jury at the hearing in Sandwich gave a narrative conclusion, saying: "Opportunities were missed to implement recommendations.

"Had a light sensor been installed, it is highly likely this incident would have never occurred."

VIDEO: Simon Daws speaks after the inquest into his mother's death

Mr Daws, a London property manager, said: "Finding out about the lack of thorough inspections of the lift, which was their obligation, has been quite disturbing.

"We now know that the home should have had the lift inspected regularly. They didn’t do that for seven years and this has led to my mother’s death.

"Had that £1,100 safety sensor curtain been fitted at the time, she would still be alive.

"She was just 18 months away from her retirement, paying off her mortgage and spending more time with her grandchildren and gardening.

"I hope that other homes and duty holders with lifts take these regulations seriously.

"Sadly, the conclusion of the inquest has come on what would have been my mother's 67th birthday, but I am glad we have finally heard the full circumstances that led to her death."

Previoously, the jury heard that although regularly serviced and maintained, the lift had not had a safety inspection, as required by the Lift Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations every six months, for seven years.

The tragedy happened on October 16, 2013, and soon after a sensor beam curtain was installed to prevent a re-occurrence.

Staff who gave evidence said the usual practice for transporting wheelchairs and other equipment was to push it in first and stand beside it.

They expressed surprise that Mrs Daws, who lived in Eddington Lane, Herne Bay, had pulled the chair in and stood behind it.

But others said they has seen it happen and the day after the tragedy, an environmental health inspector who visited the home also saw the practice.

The inquest also heard there had been two previous incidents of equipment jamming in the lift while being transported, which on one occasion led to a carer injuring her arm.

The home is now under new ownership but co-owner at the time, Anne Hooper, admitted to the hearing that she had not been aware of the Lift Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations, which required the six-monthly inspections.

She said she thought the home’s manager Lynn Laxton or the lift servicing contractors would have been aware.

Mrs Laxton did not attend the hearing because it was said she was suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome.

In his summing up, assistant coroner James Dillon reminded the jury that no one was on trial and it was their role to establish the facts solely on the evidence heard.

He advised members that the two conclusions open to them were accidental death or a narrative.

After the hearing, city council environmental health inspector Nick Mayne said the case was still being investigated to see if there had been any health and safety breaches.

The owner of the home at the time of the tragedy issued a statement after the hearing saying: "KCRH Ltd wish to express their condolences to the Daws family at this difficult time."