A seasonal farm worker who came to the island “dreaming of a brighter future” was forced to beg for food and money from his neighbours just days before he died after attempting to warm himself with a “makeshift” fire in his kitchen, an inquest has heard.

George Michael Monte De Ramos Castrudes (37) suffered significant hypoxic brain damage resulting from a fire started in work lodgings on the grounds of La Valette Nurseries in Grouville.

The seasonal agency worker was found lying unconscious on Sunday 19 January last year in a wooden cabin “engulfled in flames”, the inquest was told.

The 37-year-old employee at La Valette Nurseries was treated at the scene at Rue au Blancq before being handed over to paramedics and taken to the General Hospital, where he died four days later.

The concluding phase of the inquest into Mr Castrudes’ death started at Morier House this morning.

La Valette Nurseries directors Nigel, David and Paul Blake were present, alongside a representative from the Jersey Farmers’ Union and two officers from the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service.

A “very smiley, cheerful man”

Mr Castrudes’ sister Grace and partner Mitchelle listened in via a remote link, alongside Agnes Tan on behalf of Filipino recruitment agency Diamond-H. 

The inquest heard that the farm worker had filled the drum of a washing machine with “smokeless” wood to create an “improvised fire-pit” in the middle of his kitchen.

A couple who lived in a nearby house rented from the Blake family gave evidence at the hearing.

The wife described Mr Castrudes as a “very smiley, cheerful man” who she’d known as “one of the workers on the farm” for three-to-four years. 

“Very sheepish and cold”

On the day of the fire, she said she heard a “tentative buzz” at her door followed by a “second louder buzz”.

“When I opened the door I saw George stood there, initially very apologetic for disturbing me – he asked me if he could have some money, he said: ‘I need money, I have no food.’

“I was taken aback by this, it was the first time George had ever mentioned that, or that he was struggling.

“Initially I said that you need to talk to Nigel [Blake]. He responded that he had, but that Nigel said it was not his problem.”

The neighbour said Mr Castrudes “appeared very grateful” when she gave him a £10 note and a plastic tub of frozen green soup.

She added that the farm worker appeared “very sheepish and cold”, insisting that he would “pay back” the £10 given to him.

The neighbour told the inquest that she “had assumed the accommodation was heated and he was provided with warm clothing by the Blakes”, but was “taken aback thinking about how much it would have taken George to ask for help”.

It was agreed between her and her husband that Mr Castrudes would be “invited in” the next day to have a “more substantial meal”.

No fire alarm heard

But, in the early hours of the next morning, the couple was awoken by shouts that the neighbouring cabin was “on fire”.

By the time firefighters arrived, the woman added, the accomodation was “already engulfed in flames”.

“None of us knew if George was within the building, but I knew that it was his accommodation”, she said, noting that she “didn’t hear a fire alarm”.

Evidence from firefighters revealed that the Mr Castrudes was discovered collapsed with his head between the washing machine and the tumble dryer after using a steel drum to create an improvised fire-pit.

Fire Crew Commander Oliver Gleave concluded that a cigarette lighter was used to ignite the makeshift fire “as a source of heating in the property at a time when temperatures had dropped particularly low outside, to 0.3 degrees celsius”.

A “humble man” with a “kind-hearted attitude”

He explained that the “working hypothesis” was that Mr Castrudes was “overcome by combustion” from the fire, causing the fire-pit “to be knocked over”, leading to the ignition of a portion of the flooring material.

A family statement written by Mr Castrudes’ sister Grace said that he came to the island “dreaming of a brighter future for his children”.

She added that her brother – a “humble man” with a “kind-hearted attitude” – spoke to her of encountering problems receiving his wages on time.

The inquest continues tomorrow.

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