A crane operator working at a recycling facility discovered the body of a man among waste material, an inquest has been told. Nicholas Milburn, 45, died at the Haverton Hill centre in Billingham on September 24, 2025. His body was identified through fingerprint analysis done at the University Hospital of North Tees, police documents said. 

Paul Appleton, area coroner for Teesside and Hartlepool, said the crane operator noticed Mr Milburn's body after picking up rubbish from one of the piles. He explained: "A crane operator had been working within line three... at the Haverton Hill recycling plant.

"They were using a remote operated claw. They picked up a quantity of waste from line three and noticed the body of a deceased male."

The crane was then lowered and all operations at the facility stopped while police were called to investigate, the hearing heard.

Mr Milburn's provisional medical cause of death was determined to be "chest injuries" by a post mortem.

His death is not being treated as suspicious, Cleveland Police previously said.

A spokesperson said at the time: "At 1.45pm on Wednesday, September 24 police were called to the waste facility at Haverton Hill Road in Billingham following reports of a body being located.

"Detectives attended to the scene and an investigation is taking place to identify the body and the circumstances surrounding how it came to be at the facility. The waste facility part of the site is currently closed while a scene is in place."

The inquest has now been adjoured and ther is no confirmed date for the next hearing.