A father crushed to death at work by a car he was fixing had no formal qualifications, a court heard.

Ashley King, 20, died on November 16 when the Ford Escort he was working on at a Park Farm Industrial Estate garage in Folkestone fell from its axle stand.

Medics pronounced the ex-Folkestone Academy pupil dead at the scene, prompting a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) probe.

The HSE is a government body that aims to prevent work-related death, injury and ill health.

At his pre-inquest review, when assistant coroner Katrina Hepburn asked the family for Mr King’s mechanics background they said he had no qualifications.

The court heard Mr King worked at the garage occasionally “to help out,” according to one family member.

Archbishop’s Palace in Maidstone heard garage boss Vaughan Jones tasked Mr King with a job before leaving the building.

He discovered Mr King’s body when returning shortly after.

Now, Mr Jones must provide Ms Hepburn with a statement, specifying what task Mr King was asked to carry out and what training he received.

To help understand Mr King’s level of experience, Ms Hepburn ordered a statement from Glenn Porter, a previous employer.

Ms Hepburn drew up an inquest date of January 14 and 15, which will include a jury.

Kent Police and HSE will also give evidence and CCTV footage from inside the garage will be supplied.

Ms Hepburn told the family: “The inquest will determine the ‘who’, ‘when’, ‘where’ and ‘why’ (questions surrounding the death).

“The hardest bit, I have to say, is the ‘why.’ ”

Following the incident friends paid tribute to the “funny, cheeky and kind-hearted” father, who was expecting his second child with his girlfriend.

More than £2,780 was donated by people wishing to help support the family in paying for funeral costs and setting up a fund for his two daughters for when they turn 18.

The page on JustGiving was created by friend Ed Dixon.

He said: “Ash woke up on the morning of November 16 and went to work, something most of us do every day and think nothing of, but Ash didn’t come home from work that day.

“He was working underneath a car and the worst happened. Even with the help of ambulances, paramedics and even the air ambulance, Ash couldn’t be saved.

“Ash leaves behind a loving girlfriend, two daughters (one of whom is still yet to be born and even meet her incredible daddy), an amazingly strong family and a million friends.”

Paramedics, the air ambulance and police were called at 11.45am to the scene but Mr King died despite efforts to save him.