A POLISH migrant work-er suffered horrendous injuries when a tree he was helping to cut down for a bonfire fell on him, an inquest heard.

Most of the bones in the skull of Krzysztof Kopacz, 23, were broken, leaving brain tissue severely damaged.

An ambulance did not arrive at the scene for 45 minutes because operators could not understood Mr Kopacz's friends' pleas for help.

But the inquest at Burnley Magistrates' Court heard that his injuries were so severe nothing could have been done to save him.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, East Lancashire Coroner Richard Taylor said: "What had been intended to be a happy, joyous occasion turned into a tragedy."

The hearing was told that Mr Kopacz, of Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, was at a bonfire party in the grounds of the former Cliffe Nursing and Care Home, Ramsbottom, and had gone to help his friend cut down a tree for the fire when it fell on him on November 3 last year.

One woman at the party drove into Ramsbottom, trying to find someone who could translate for her, while others stayed with Mr Kopacz.

Around 15 people, all migrant workers from East-ern Europe, had been invited to the bonfire party by Grzegorz Opala, who had been working as a security guard at the former care home, off Stubbins Vale Road.

He and some others had been living there, while others, including Mr Kopacz, had come from Greater Manchester.

The party began just after 8.30pm and, at 9.20pm, guest Tomasz Lasota, 28, began to chop down the dead tree.

He called for help to push it over, and Mr Kopacz went to his aid.

In a statement to the inquest, Mr Lasota said: "I heard a cracking noise and when I looked, Krzysztof was on the floor. We carried him into the home and put him on his side because we didn't want him to choke on the blood.

"The ambulance control didn't understand us on the phone and we didn't know the address. We had to find envelopes in the house to read from.

"One of the women drove into town to try to find an English speaker."

Pathologist Dr Zuhair Twaij, who detailed Mr Kopacz's injuries, said the worker had drunk only a small amount of alcohol, and there were no drugs in his system.