FATHER DIES TRYING TO SAVE HIS SON AFTER BOTH ARE TRAPPED IN CHESHIRE FARM SLURRY TANK

A father died after entering a farm tank in an attempt to help his son, who had become trapped while carrying out work at the family farm in Cheshire.

Alan Ford, 72, and his son Rick Ford, 42, both died after an incident involving a large slurry tank at New Farm in Aston-by-Budworth, near Northwich.

The tragedy has devastated Cheshire’s farming community, where both men were well known through their work with the Cheshire Agricultural Society.

RICK ENTERED THE TANK TO REPAIR A PIPE

The fatal incident happened on August 26, 2026, at the family’s farm on Cann Lane.

According to evidence reported at an inquest, Rick — who lived at the farm and was a father of five — had entered the tank to repair a pipe.

He subsequently got into difficulty.

His 72-year-old father, Alan, then entered the tank in an attempt to help his son.

Both men ultimately died.

Emergency services were called at approximately 12:20 p.m. after reports of an industrial incident.

Police, firefighters and ambulance crews attended the farm and recovered the two men from the tank.

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

A TRAGEDY THAT SHOCKED CHESHIRE’S FARMING COMMUNITY

The deaths were particularly devastating because Alan and Rick were prominent figures in the county’s agricultural community.

Alan had served as chairman and director of the Cheshire Agricultural Society 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 Royal Cheshire County Show published a tribute describing the Ford family as having worked tirelessly for the society over many years.

The statement said both men would be “very sadly missed” by everyone who knew them.

AN INQUEST HAS BEEN OPENED

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

The case was subsequently adjourned until February 25, 2027, allowing time for a joint investigation by Cheshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to establish exactly what happened.

The precise circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.

Authorities have not publicly established every factor that led to the two men entering the tank or what ultimately caused their deaths.

QUESTIONS REMAIN

Initial reports described the incident simply as an industrial accident involving a slurry or silage tank.

Later inquest reporting provided more detail about the sequence of events, including Rick entering the tank to work on a pipe and Alan following him in an attempt to rescue his son.

However, the ongoing investigation means it is important not to draw conclusions about the exact cause of the deaths before the authorities complete their work.

The HSE and police are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

REMEMBERING ALAN AND RICK

For those who knew the pair through the agricultural community, the tragedy represents the loss of two generations of the same farming family.

Alan had spent many years contributing to the Cheshire Agricultural Society before his retirement.

Rick continued that involvement as a director and was also raising a family of his own.

Their deaths have prompted an outpouring of tributes from people across the farming community.

One message described them as two hardworking and kind men who would be deeply missed.

A FAMILY LEFT TO GRIEVE

The investigation will continue into next year, but for the Ford family, the loss of both a father and son has already changed their lives forever.

Alan was 72.

Rick, known as Richard, was 42 and a father of five.

What began as work at a family farm ended with two generations of the same family losing their lives — leaving relatives, friends and the wider Cheshire farming community waiting for answers about the circumstances of the tragedy.