The circumstances how a Royal Mail van rolled over and killed a Western Isles postman is a mystery, a court heard on Tuesday evening.

Ronnie Morrison of Hacklett, Benbecula, died when he was dragged underneath his own mail van in Ford Terrace in Creagorry, on 28 March last year.

The well-liked local man, known as Ronnie Mòr, was killed near his elderly mother Annalisa’s home in the housing scheme near the South Ford causeway.

He died of chest injuries and having his air supply cut off after being trapped underneath the vehicle, procurator fiscal David Teale told a fatal accident inquiry into his death at Lochmaddy Sheriff Court.

Lawyer Gordon Seaton who represented Mr Morrison’s family, stressed the tragedy was a “puzzle” as a police investigator stressed the vehicle would have rolled backwards immediately without either the handbrake or gears being applied.

Yet, the it only rolled away after Mr Morrison - who had worked for the Royal mail for ten years - went and returned from delivering post to an adjacent house first, he highlighted.

The solicitor said this “accident may not have happened” if the Royal Mail had an audio handbrake reminder warning - now being introduced into some new vans - plus “more focused training for postmen.”

He said the family did not seek to “blame anyone but don’t want this to happen to anyone else.”

Sheriff Noel McPartlin said: “Mr Morrison was desperately unlucky to be fatally injured in this way.

He hoped the inquiry would assist the family.

He will issue his findings at a later date.

Exact details of postman’s death is a “mystery” 24/6/14

Lawyer Gordon Seaton represented Mr Morrison’s family