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

A 72-year-old farmer died while trying to save his son after the younger man became trapped inside an industrial slurry tank at a family farm in Cheshire, an inquest has heard.

Alan Ford and his son Rick Ford, 42, died following the incident at a farm on Cann Lane in Aston-by-Budworth, near Northwich, on August 26.

According to evidence heard at the inquest, Rick had entered the tank to carry out work on a pipe before getting into difficulty.

Alan then entered the tank in an attempt to rescue his son.

Both men subsequently became unresponsive and were later pronounced dead at the scene.

RICK ENTERED THE TANK TO REPAIR A PIPE

Emergency services were called to the farm at around 12:20 p.m. on August 26 following reports of an industrial incident.

Police, firefighters and ambulance crews attended the scene after the two men fell into the industrial tank.

Both were eventually recovered by emergency responders, but despite efforts to save them, they were pronounced dead.

Cheshire Constabulary confirmed at the time that an investigation had been launched to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The later inquest provided further details about what happened.

Rick, who was 42 and a father of five, had entered the tank to repair a pipe when he became unresponsive.

His father then went inside in an attempt to help him, but Alan also became unresponsive.

AN INQUEST HAS BEEN OPENED

An inquest into the deaths was opened at Cheshire Coroners’ Court on September 9.

Coroner Victoria Davies said an inquest was necessary because the deaths were unnatural.

The proceedings have now been adjourned until February 25, 2027, allowing time for a joint investigation by Cheshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive to establish the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

No final finding has been made about the exact cause of either man’s death.

Authorities have also not publicly confirmed what caused the two men to become unresponsive inside the tank.

A FAMILY DEEPLY ROOTED IN CHESHIRE FARMING

Alan and Rick were well known within Cheshire’s farming community.

Alan had served as chairman of the Cheshire Agricultural Society before retiring from the position 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 organisation over many years.

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

The family has asked for privacy as they grieve.

THE TRAGEDY HAS SHOCKED THE FARMING COMMUNITY

News of the deaths prompted an outpouring of condolences from people across the local farming community.

Friends and colleagues remembered the father and son as respected members of the agricultural community who had devoted years to supporting farming events and organisations in Cheshire.

The tragedy has also highlighted the dangers associated with working around agricultural slurry and storage tanks.

However, investigators have yet to establish the precise circumstances that led to the deaths, and the ongoing investigation will examine what happened inside the tank that afternoon.

For the Ford family, the tragedy has left a father and son gone in the same devastating incident — with the full circumstances still to be established.

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