THE founder and chief executive of a Farnham landscaping company died on Tuesday morning after stone and shingle from a tipper truck fell on him.
Derek Bicknell, who was 58, was unloading the truck with a colleague when the accident happened at Pinks Hill's base on the Bourne Mill Industrial Estate just before 8 am.
Mr Bicknell was pronounced dead on arrival at Frimley Park Hospital. His colleague was treated for a minor leg injury.
The accident is now being investigated by Waverley Borough Council's environmental health team. An inquest into Mr Bicknell's death was expected to open yesterday (Thursday).
Mr Bicknell, who, according to a company statement lived "locally but not in Farnham" had been the Pinks Hill's "driving force for many years", relocating the company from Wood Street near Guildford following its expansion.
The company statement said: "Derek was extremely well respected throughout the stone and landscape industry and he was often called upon to make feature displays at well known horticultural events.
"Derek will be sorely missed by all those who worked with him, both in this country and India (from where he imported stone) but especially by his immediate family."
The statement said Pinks Hill will continue trading as normal.