Coroner probes death of man, 40, who stepped out of van after Blackpool's International Firework Championship

A Blackpool coroner has probed the death of a man who died after falling out of the back of a van.

David Rhodes, 40, died from a head injury on October 12, 2025 when he stepped out of the back of his partner’s van in Kirkham whilst it was moving, following a ‘significant blow-up’ in their relationship and arguments leading up to the tragic incident.

Assistant coroner Patrick Cassidy recorded a verdict of misadventure and said he could not conclude that the ‘intended act of Mr Rhodes was that he intended to lose his life’.

At Blackpool Town Hall, the inquest heard the circumstances leading up to the incident and how Mr Rhodes, of Todmorden, had been arguing with his partner, Emma Foden, over his alcohol addiction and cans of cider he had bought in Blackpool town centre.

They had left Todmorden during the afternoon of October 11 2025 after Mr Rhodes, a builder, had worked a shift.

The inquest heard how he had been struggling to pay his rent, the work had lifted his spirits and he wanted to take his partner and their seven-year-old daughter to Blackpool to see the International Firework Competition.

They drove to Blackpool at around 6.30pm, Mr Rhodes was driving and Miss Foden recalled how he was in a good mood.

However the traffic was heavy and once in Blackpool Mr Rhodes became frustrated by it, got out of the car and walked off. Ms Foden, took over the driving, parked up and headed with their daughter to the Promenade to watch the fireworks. It was there she met up with Mr Rhodes once more.

She told the inquest how Mr Rhodes hadn't had a drink until she saw him pull a can of cider out of his jacket at an arcade they visited after the firework display.

He then went on to buy more cans from Costcutter which became the catalyst of horrific arguing on the way home. Several witnesses told the inquest that they had seen the couple parked up, had seen Mr Rhodes 'banging the car' and spitting and sitting on the kerb asking people for Rizla cigarette papers.

Ms Foden told the inquest how Mr Rhodes got into the car at the front, moving their daughter and diving into the back of the van looking for tobacco.

He got out of the van on one occasion but then returned, opening the back door to climb in as Ms Foden had begun to move the vehicle.

Ms Foden told the inquest she repeatedly asked him to ‘get out of the car’, pulling over one one occasion but he refused.

They reached Kirkham at the junction of Carr Road and Dowerbridge at around 10pm and the traffic was very slow moving, hardly nudging into third gear.

Witness Rebecca Smith was driving her car behind the couple's van and explained how she saw the car ‘rocking’ before the back door of the van open and the right leg ‘kicked out and brought it back in again.’ A minute or two passed before Mr Rhodes forced the doors open, half crouched in the back of the van.

Miss Smith said: “He just stepped out in a strange way, as if the car was stationary and fell to the floor.”

Ms Foden didn’t realise he had gone for about 30 seconds and then immediately turned round to go back to see what had happened.

At the scene Rebecca’s partner Regan Malthouse placed Mr Rhodes in the recovery position and the couple’s daughter was taken to their car to keep her away from the trauma.

Emergency services arrived and took Mr Rhodes to Royal Preston Hospital by ambulance where he was pronounced dead.

Police witnesses said there were no medical defects to the car and using CCTV footage, there no evidence to suggest inappropriate driving.

Mr Matt Lyall, a home office pathologist, said: “A combination of findings tell us that there was a reasonable, substantial impact to the back of the head.”

He concluded the medical cause of death was a blunt force to the head.

A toxicology report found Mr Rhodes had alcohol in his blood, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is the main chemical compound in the cannabis plant, Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and benzoylecgonine, found in people who have used cocaine.

Mr Rhodes sisters described him as a cheeky chappy, full of energy, a firecracker and truly unforgettable.

Recording his verdict, Mr Cassidy said: “On October 11 on Carr Lane in Kirkham, Mr David Rhodes sustained a fatal head injury when he exited the rear doors under the influence of alcohol having argued with his partner.

“Both had addictions and other problems, and there was a significant blow up in their relationship. I cannot conclude that Mr Rhodes had intended to lose his life and record a verdict of misadventure.”