FARMER ALAN FORD, 72, DIED TRYING TO SAVE HIS SON RICK, 42, AFTER HE GOT INTO TROUBLE INSIDE A SLURRY TANK

A respected 72-year-old farmer died while trying to save his son after the younger man got into difficulty inside a slurry tank on their family farm in Cheshire, an inquest has heard.

Alan Ford and his son Richard “Rick” Ford, 42, died following a tragic farming accident at New Farm in Aston-by-Budworth, near Northwich, Cheshire, on August 26.

The father and son were both prominent figures in the county’s agricultural community.

According to evidence reported at an inquest, Rick had entered the tank earlier in the day while attempting to repair a pipe.

When he got into difficulty, his father Alan entered the tank in an attempt to help him.

Both men subsequently died despite emergency crews being called to the farm.

The tragedy has since prompted an investigation involving Cheshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive, the UK’s workplace safety regulator.

Rick had entered the tank to repair a pipe

The incident happened at the family farm on Cann Lane in Aston-by-Budworth shortly after midday on August 26.

Rick, a father of five who lived at the farm, had reportedly entered the slurry tank to carry out repair work on a pipe.

At some point, he encountered difficulties inside the tank.

His father then entered the tank to try to rescue him, according to evidence presented at the inquest.

The circumstances surrounding exactly what happened inside the tank remain under investigation.

Emergency services were called at approximately 12:20 p.m., with police, firefighters and ambulance crews responding to the farm.

The two men were eventually removed from the tank.

Despite the efforts of emergency responders, both were pronounced dead at the scene.

A devastating loss for the farming community

Alan and Rick were well known beyond their own farm.

Alan had served as chairman and director of the Cheshire Agricultural Society, the organization behind the Royal Cheshire County Show, before retiring from those positions in April 2026.

Rick had also served as a director of the society for several years.

Following their deaths, the Cheshire Agricultural Society paid tribute to both men and described the Ford family as having worked tirelessly for the organization over many years.

The society said Alan and Rick would be “very sadly missed” by everyone who knew them.

Their deaths prompted an outpouring of condolences from members of the agricultural community.

Friends and colleagues remembered the father and son as respected figures who had devoted much of their lives to farming and agricultural organizations in Cheshire.

Emergency crews rushed to the farm

Cheshire Police said officers were called to the farm after receiving a report of an industrial incident.

Firefighters and ambulance crews also attended.

Police initially said that two men, aged 72 and 42, had fallen into an industrial silage tank.

They were rescued from the tank but were pronounced dead at the scene.

At the time, authorities did not immediately release their names, while the Cheshire Agricultural Society identified them as Alan and Rick Ford.

Police said the men’s next of kin had been informed and that an investigation had been launched to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The family also asked for privacy as they dealt with the loss.

Why slurry tanks can be extremely dangerous

Slurry tanks are used on farms to store agricultural waste, including animal manure and urine, before it can be used or processed.

The environment inside such tanks can be extremely hazardous.

As slurry decomposes, it can release toxic gases including hydrogen sulfide, methane, ammonia and carbon dioxide.

High concentrations of these gases can cause a person to lose consciousness rapidly, creating an additional danger for anyone attempting an unprotected rescue.

Safety experts have repeatedly warned that entering a slurry tank can be fatal and that rescuers should not enter without appropriate specialist equipment and training.

The dangers are particularly serious when one person enters a tank and another immediately follows in an attempt to help.

Inquest adjourned

An inquest into the deaths of Alan and Rick has now been opened at Cheshire Coroners’ Court in Warrington.

The case was adjourned to allow investigators time to complete their work.

A further hearing is expected on February 25, 2027.

Cheshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive are jointly investigating the circumstances of the incident.

Authorities have not indicated that anyone has been charged in connection with the deaths.

The investigation will examine what happened before the men entered the tank, the work being carried out at the time and the circumstances that led to both men becoming trapped or incapacitated.

A father and son remembered

For the Ford family, the tragedy represents the loss of two generations of a farming family at the same time.

Alan had spent years contributing to Cheshire’s agricultural community, while Rick had followed his father into farming and agricultural leadership.

The Cheshire Agricultural Society said the family had worked tirelessly for the organization for many years.

Its tribute expressed sympathy to their relatives and friends during what it described as an extremely difficult time.

The tragedy has also served as a stark reminder of the dangers that can exist on working farms, particularly around slurry and silage storage facilities.

As the investigation continues, Alan and Rick’s family are left to mourn the loss of a father and son whose lives were closely connected to farming and the Cheshire agricultural community.

For now, investigators are working to establish the full circumstances of the accident, while the inquest remains open.