FATHER DIES TRYING TO SAVE SON AFTER HORROR SLURRY TANK TRAGEDY ON FAMILY FARM

A 72-year-old father died after entering a slurry tank in a desperate attempt to help his son, who had become unresponsive while carrying out work inside the tank, an inquest has heard.

Alan Ford and his 42-year-old son, Richard “Rick” Ford, died following the tragic incident at their family farm in Aston-by-Budworth, near Northwich, Cheshire, on August 26, 2026.

The father and son were both well known within Cheshire’s farming community and had longstanding connections to the Cheshire Agricultural Society.

Their deaths have since been described as a devastating loss to the agricultural community.

RICK ENTERED THE TANK TO REPAIR A PIPE

According to evidence reported from the inquest, Rick had entered the industrial slurry tank to carry out work on a pipe.

The 42-year-old father of five then encountered difficulties and became unresponsive.

Alan, 72, entered the tank in an attempt to help his son.

He also subsequently became unresponsive.

Emergency services were called to the farm at around 12.20pm on August 26.

Police, firefighters, ambulance crews and an air ambulance attended the scene, and both men were recovered from the tank.

Despite the efforts of emergency responders, Alan and Rick were pronounced dead at the scene.

INQUEST HEARS OF FATHER’S DESPERATE RESCUE ATTEMPT

An inquest into the deaths was opened at Cheshire Coroners’ Court in Warrington.

Area coroner Victoria Davies opened the proceedings before the case was adjourned to allow investigators more time to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The latest reporting from the inquest indicates that Alan went into the tank after his son got into difficulty.

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

A joint investigation involving Cheshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is being carried out.

The inquest is scheduled to resume on February 25, 2027.

TWO GENERATIONS OF A RESPECTED FARMING FAMILY

Alan and Rick were prominent figures in Cheshire’s agricultural community.

Alan had served as chairman and director of the Cheshire Agricultural Society, stepping down from his role as chairman and director in April 2026.

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

Following their deaths, the Royal Cheshire County Show paid tribute to the pair and to the wider Ford family.

The society said the Ford family had worked tirelessly for the organisation over many years and that both Alan and Rick would be greatly missed.

The tribute also offered sympathy and support to their relatives during what was described as an extremely difficult period.

WHY SLURRY TANKS ARE SO DANGEROUS

The tragedy has also highlighted the serious risks associated with agricultural slurry tanks.

Slurry tanks are used to store animal waste and other materials before they can be safely used as fertiliser.

As slurry decomposes, it can produce gases including hydrogen sulphide, methane, ammonia and carbon dioxide.

In enclosed spaces, these gases can create potentially life-threatening conditions, and people attempting to rescue someone inside a tank can also become victims if they enter without suitable protective equipment.

However, authorities have not confirmed that toxic gas exposure was the specific cause of Alan and Rick Ford’s deaths.

The exact circumstances remain part of the ongoing investigation.

A COMMUNITY LEFT DEVASTATED

The deaths of Alan and Rick sent shockwaves through the Cheshire farming community.

Their connection to the Royal Cheshire County Show meant they were known by many people beyond their own farm.

Tributes described both men as important contributors to the agricultural community, while friends and colleagues expressed their sadness at losing two generations of the same family in one tragic incident.

For the Ford family, the loss has been immeasurable.

For investigators, the focus now remains on establishing exactly what happened that afternoon and whether any lessons can be learned from the tragedy.

The inquest will eventually examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths in greater detail.

Until then, the full picture remains under investigation.

What is known is that a routine piece of work on a family farm became a devastating emergency — and that when Rick encountered trouble inside the tank, his father Alan went in after him.

Both men died that afternoon, leaving behind a grieving family and a farming community mourning the loss of two generations.