A delivery driver who died as he tried to stop his van being stolen “paid an immensely high price”, a coroner has said.
Claudiu-Carol Kondor, 42, died in Heights Drive in Leeds on 20 August after his Ford Transit was stolen in Alliance Street during a drop-off, police said.
An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned at Wakefield Coroners’ Court on Friday.
Senior coroner Kevin McLoughlin said Mr Kondor, who lived in Sheffield, was “a Romanian gentleman who was contributing to society”.
“He was here, he was working hard, when he found someone stealing his vehicle,” he added.
“He’s commendably tried to prevent the crime taking place but he’s paid an immensely high price for this.”
Mr McLoughlin called it a “violent and unnatural death of a valued citizen”.
Mr Kondor worked for SP Transport Group and was doing a delivery for Amazon at the time.
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An online fundraising page set up by his colleagues has raised more than £31,000 for his family.
“This unimaginable loss has left us all devastated,” wrote operations manager Mike Neill.
“His commitment to his work and the camaraderie he brought to the workplace will never be forgotten,” he added.
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Mark Ross, 32, of Armley, Leeds, appeared in court last month accused of murdering Mr Kondor – he’s due to go on trial next year.
A 24-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder was released on bail, while a woman arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender was also released under investigation.
The inquest was adjourned to a date yet to be fixed.
