A man who was trapped in a bin lorry died as a result of a cardiac arrest in surgery, a pre-inquest review has revealed.

Russell Lane suffered crushing injuries to his legs after sleeping in a bin in Rochester High Street on January 8.

When the bin men collected the rubbish, despite following protocol to check the bin was empty, Mr Lane became trapped.

It was revealed at the review that doctors at Medway Maritime Hospital wanted to amputate Mr Lane’s leg but he refused and wanted a second opinion at a hospital closer to his home in Southampton.

While waiting to be transferred, Mr Lane suffered heavy bleeding from his femoral artery and while surgeons tried to save him, he had a cardiac arrest.

He died on February 17.

The full inquest to find the cause of his death, including why he was sleeping in the bin, is expected to be held in October.