The heartbroken widow of a popular Cornish wine producer has described the moment her husband became the victim of a freak accident.

George Musgrave, 66, died when a pallet of bottles weighing half a tonne shot off the back of a hydraulic lifting trolley and hit him.

Mr Musgrave ran Polmassick Vineyard, near St Austell, with his wife Barbara.

Mrs Musgrave, 62, who was standing nearby when the accident happened, said last night: "It was such a shock - so sudden. George and I were standing at the back of the lorry to help guide it.

"Suddenly this pallet of bottles flew off the back. My husband didn't have time to get out of the way and he was hit. It was a freak accident. I just hope that he didn't suffer."

Mr Musgrave sustained massive internal injuries and was airlifted to the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske, Truro, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Emergency services were called to the vineyard at about 4.15pm on Tuesday April 15.

A police spokesman said: "The Health and Safety Executive have now taken over investigations. It is not being treated as suspicious and no arrests have been made."

Mr Musgrave and his wife have a son and daughter and had been married for more than 30 years.

He qualified as an accountant and started the vineyard 22 years ago.

Mrs Musgrave said: "George loved the land. He was brought up on a smallholding in Suffolk and had always yearned to get back to it. George loved the outdoor life. He was also a great family man, liked rugby, was very sociable and had a wonderful sense of humour. It's so hard to believe what has happened."

The vineyard, which produces seven different types of wine, is in the village of St Ewe, a community with around 40 people.

Mrs Musgrave added: "Our friends and neighbours have been an absolute tower of strength. Really wonderful."

Local people also expressed their sorrow and disbelief.

Neighbour Lynne Tregunna, 50, a school technician, said that Mr Musgrave's death had had a profound effect on the local community.

She said: "George and Barbara were simply the nicest couple you could ever wish to meet. George would do anything for anyone. He was such a big part of village life. I can't believe that I won't see him passing my door any more while out and about. He was part of the landscape - losing him like this has left us all stunned."

The couple met in Liberia and Mr Musgrave's career in accountancy took them all over the world before they decided to settle in Cornwall in 1986.

In 1999 Mr Musgrave became funding grants co-ordinator at The Eden Project. He retired 18 months ago.

Tim Smit, chief executive of Eden, said: "George was one of those very, very rare individuals who when he walked in the room, made the room feel better for it and his contribution to Cornwall has been significant.

"To his many friends he was quite simply a giant smile, twinkling eyes, mischief and wisdom rolled into one."

The funeral is due to take place at 11.30am tomorrow at the Church of St Ewe.