A RETIRED police officer died while trimming over-hanging trees on a North Wales railway. An inquest heard how Talyllyn volunteer and enthusiast Antony Bennett tumbled 12ft onto the narrow gauge line in October last year. The 68-year-old, of Bryncrug, near Tywyn, suffered a fractured skull following the tragic fall which happened near Rhydyronnen Station. The Dolgellau hearing was told the branch he was cutting swung back and knocked his ladder. Eye witnesses said Mr Bennett held on for a short while before falling onto the line. Patrick McEvoy, the owner of the nearby Tyn Llwyn Caravan Park, described the pensioner as a close friend who cut tree branches on the railway line in the past. He told the inquest the ladder was securely tied to one branch as Mr Bennett started sawing another slightly higher branch. He said: "His small chainsaw would not cut through the branch and he asked for my larger chainsaw. "He was cutting the branch when there was a loud crack and the branch swung back, hitting the ladder, and breaking it in two. "Tony held on for a short while and then fell about 12ft," he added.. John David Berry, who had a caravan on the Tyn Llwyn site, said he watched the tragedy unfold. He confirmed that the branch swung back. | 
