An inquest into the lone death caused by a tornado that tore through Goderich began Monday.
Norman Laberge was the only person to die during the Aug. 21, 2011, tornado, which leveled buildings, injured more than 100 people and caused nearly $130 million in damage.
Laberge, 61, was working at the Sifto Canada salt mine in Goderich when the F-3 tornado hit. He was operating a boat boom nearly 20 metres in the air.
Laberge told a co-worker he was getting down because bad weather was coming in, but 30 seconds later he was hit by the tornado. Rescue workers found him at the bottom of a heap of twisted metal.
On Monday, the inquest began with win focuses on Laberge’s death and weather warnings.
A pathologist testified that Laberge died instantly, with his spine, jaw and larynx fractured.
“It’s my dad that they’re talking about, so it’s hard to hear,” said Jocelyn Laberge, Norman’s daughter.
“There’s a practical side that knows it came fast, but then there’s a part that (makes) you question why he was up there still. It’s hard to keep your feelings out of it.”
The inquest also heard that residents had less than five minutes’ warning before the tornado ripped through the town.
Environment Canada issued a thunderstorm warning at 2 p.m. the day of the tornado. A marine tornado warning was issued at 3:38 p.m., followed by a tornado warning 10 minutes later.
Geoff Coulson, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, says the storm’s strength was hard to predict.
“I’ve been with Environment Canada for a little over 29 years (but) never seen a tornado of that intensity come off a large body of water like that,” Coulson said from outside the inquest.
“The fact that it intensified over the lake is something very rare, since many storms weaken as they go across Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.”
The inquest, which is mandatory under the Coroners Act, is taking place at the Goderich courthouse. It’s expected to last for most of the week, with a jury hearing from 15 dozen witnesses.
Recommendations to help prevent similar deaths are expected to come out of the inquest.
With files from CTV London and The Canadian Press
