THE family of a man who died after falling from a roof near Ringwood have said life will never be the same again.

Tony Ockwell, 42, died from severe head injuries when he fell while repairing the roof at a property at Avon Castle Drive.

Now his family have spoken of their loss after jurors recorded a narrative verdict into his death at an inquest on Thursday.

As previously reported, there were no safety measures in place - such as scaffolding - to protect the labourer, who died at Southampton General Hospital hours after his fall in July 2012.

In their family impact statement, his wife, Teresa, said: "Life is not and never will be the same again.

"Tony was my rock after losing my mother in a head-on collision on June 17, 2012. Then life dealt me another explosion when I received a call from the company he worked for to say he had a fall from a flat roof - details were very unclear and still are very unclear.

"Our daughter has found this extremely difficult without her dad being here; especially when she is saying she wants her life to end so she can be with him again.

"This broke my heart yet again but as time has passed I know how she is feeling because I feel it too. My rock, my soul mate, my best friend and my husband, wishing he would walk through the door.

"This tragedy would not have happened if the company which he worked for had scaffolding erected with a fall rail which should have been their top priority to make sure all health and safety to the work force is correct to the health and safety rules.

"The family would like to thank all emergency services that attended that fatal day."

His mum, Joan, added: "Life is empty without my son. He will always be in our hearts, minds and thoughts."

Detective Sergeant Neil Wright, of Dorset Police, said: “Antony Ockwell died after falling from a significant height while working on a roof as a labourer at 32 Avon Castle Drive, Ringwood, Dorset on July 20, 2012.

“A police investigation was conducted into the circumstances of Antony Ockwell’s death and the case was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service for advice where a decision was made that there was insufficient evidence for criminal offences namely manslaughter and corporate manslaughter.

“The Health and Safety Executive is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Antony Ockwell’s death.

“We ask that the family of Mr Ockwell, who have had their lives turned upside down by this tragic incident, be allowed the time and space to come to terms with the verdict of this inquest and to be allowed to grieve privately.

“Mr Ockwell’s death serves as a tragic reminder to organisations and individuals working at height of the importance of putting in place adequate protective measures.”