The family of a “kind and loving” 30-year-old man who died after being crushed inside a bin lorry in Northampton have paid tribute to him.

Sajmir Beca died after suffering catastrophic injuries when he was crushed in a Veolia refuse lorry in Wellington Street during the early hours of October 31, 2025.

An inquest held at Northampton’s Guildhall on Wednesday April 29 heard Sajmir, originally from Albania and living in the UK with family, was inside a commercial waste bin before it was emptied into the lorry.

His medical cause of death was given as multiple organ injuries due to multiple crush injuries to the pelvic and lower limbs.

In a moving statement read to the court, Sajmir’s sister said: “Born in Albania, he was the oldest child and was very enthusiastic about studying, geography in particular. Like every young boy’s dream he wanted to be a footballer. He went on to become a mechanic and was a standout student. In order to better his financial circumstances, he emigrated to the UK. He worked as a labourer in the building sector and lived with family.

“Sajmir was a pillar to his family, respectful to all those who came across him. He was a loving person and always had a smile to share with the world, no matter his circumstances. He never held grudges. He was my light. He exuded kindness, which he extended to all around him.”

The sister added: “He was not homeless. He was not married and had no children. He had no physical or mental health issues.”

The court heard Sajmir was found unconscious but breathing in the rear of the commercial waste lorry after the driver heard screaming while carrying out collections between around 2.50am and 3am on October 31.

In a statement, the Veolia driver said: “I started work at midnight as a driver operative. At approximately 2am to 3am that morning, I was on Wellington Street at various bins.

“I was supposed to empty two waste bins but one was not accessible. I thought the recycling bin, the bin with the orange lid, was overflowing with flat-pack cardboard, so it was full. I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, and it was dark.

“I put this on the back, emptied it and lowered it. When returning the bin to its place, it was then that I started to hear screaming. I could not tell where the screaming was coming from. I thought it was coming from Abington Street.

“I then saw a face looking at me and screaming at me. I was instantly in shock. The male was looking at me. I started screaming at him to get out. I was in shock and kept repeating for him to get out.

“The blade was crushing him. I realised he wasn’t going to get out, so I pushed the emergency stop button. I pressed this to reverse the blade to prevent it from crushing him.”

The driver added: “This incident shocked me. I struggle to sleep and watch things on TV with screaming. I’m worried about nightmares and not being able to do my job again.”

East Midlands Ambulance Service said it received a call from the bin lorry driver saying Mr Beca was breathing but unconscious. He was taken to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire.

Rob Green, an intensive care consultant at the hospital, said Sajmir was taken straight to surgery but later developed irreversible multi-system organ failure.

Mr Green said: “It became clear Mr Beca had developed irreversible multi-system organ failure due to his injuries and there was nothing to improve his outcome. My view was clear, that he would certainly die.”

Mr Beca sadly died at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire on November 6.

Senior coroner Anne Pember recorded a conclusion of accidental death. Ms Pember said: “He was only 30 and one would have hoped he had a good long life ahead of him.”

She added: “It is not known why Mr Beca was in Northampton or why he took it upon himself to get into the bin.”

Speaking after the inquest, family barrister Ms Fabjola Aruci, of Graysons Chambers, said: “The family have been left with many unanswered questions but they will pursue justice for Sajmir until the end.”

In a statement to this newspaper, Steve Mitchell, managing director, Commercial Veolia UK, said: “Our deepest sympathies and condolences remain with the family and loved ones of Sajmir.

“We are grateful to both the emergency services who attended and our driver who acted quickly at the scene.”