An inquest heard the tractor Rev Seiji Handa was using had faulty brakes – and could only be stopped by someone inside the cab.

The chief monk was using the tractor and cutter to mow the grass near the landmark at about 11.30am on August 21 last year.

Witness Venita Slater told the court she saw Rev Handa on the slope chasing the tractor but moments after he disappeared. She called for help but could only see Rev Handa's head protruding from under the mower, the engine of the tractor still running.

Emergency services quickly arrived and soon after Rev Handa was confirmed dead. Fire service watch manager Mark Robinson said a trail of human remains indicated that Rev Handa had been dragged down the slope.

The equipment was later examined by mechanical engineer Taran Hewitt. Speaking on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive he told the court both the tractor's handbrake and the foot brakes were faulty and could only be operated by a person sitting in the cab, adding: "If I was an inspector of tractors I would have said this one should not have been used for work."

Mr Hewitt also told the court the only way the tractor could remain still was if the engine was switched off and left in gear. He also described the mower as having a wider wheel base than the tractor.

Rev Handa – also known by his religious name of Gyosei Handa – was 50 years old.

His friend Samantha James told the court his whole life was devoted to spreading peace around the world. He came to England in 1978 and built the pagoda in 1980, maintaining the 12 acres of grounds since. He had lost three of his fingers in a previous mowing accident.

Coroner Rodney Corner said how Rev Handa died was not wholly clear.

For some reason he got out of the cab and almost certainly was trying to get back in to stop the tractor but the grass was wet and he probably slipped and fell under the moving mower.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death due to multiple injuries caused by being trapped beneath mowing equipment.