A FATHER AND SON WERE WORKING TOGETHER ON A CHESHIRE FARM — THEN A ROUTINE DAY ENDED INSIDE THE SAME INDUSTRIAL TANK

Alan Ford, 72, and his 42-year-old son Rick were at a farm near Northwich when an industrial incident suddenly brought emergency crews rushing to the scene.

What happened next has left the local farming community devastated.

At around 12:20 p.m. on August 26, police, firefighters and ambulance crews were called to a farm on Cann Lane in Aston by Budworth, near Northwich, following reports of an industrial incident.

When emergency crews arrived, they discovered that two men had fallen into an industrial silage tank.

Both were recovered by emergency personnel, but despite the rescue effort, they were pronounced dead at the scene.

THE FATHER AND SON WERE DEEPLY CONNECTED TO CHESHIRE FARMING

The men were later identified as Alan Ford and his son Rick Ford by the Cheshire Agricultural Society.

Alan had served as chairman and director of the society before retiring from both roles in April 2026.

Rick had also been a director for several years.

The Ford family had spent decades involved with the agricultural community, making the loss especially painful for those who knew them.

Tributes quickly began appearing for the pair, with friends and colleagues describing them as hardworking, kind and respected members of the community.

WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED INSIDE THE TANK?

That remains one of the biggest unanswered questions.

Police have confirmed that both men fell into the tank, but the circumstances that led to the incident have not yet been established publicly.

It is not currently known exactly what work Alan and Rick were carrying out immediately beforehand or what caused them to enter the tank area.

An investigation is now underway to determine how the tragedy unfolded.

A DANGEROUS FARMING ENVIRONMENT

The incident has also drawn attention to the dangers associated with slurry and silage tanks.

Such enclosed agricultural environments can contain hazardous gases, making rescue operations particularly difficult and dangerous.

Emergency crews nevertheless managed to recover both men from the tank after arriving at the farm.

Their family has asked for privacy while investigators work to establish what happened.

A COMMUNITY LEFT HEARTBROKEN

For Cheshire’s agricultural community, this is more than an industrial incident.

It is the loss of a father and son who had dedicated years to farming and to supporting the people around them.

Alan had only recently stepped down from his leadership role.

Rick was continuing the family’s involvement in the agricultural society.

Now, colleagues and friends are left remembering two generations of the same family — and asking how an ordinary day on a Cheshire farm could end in such a devastating way.

The investigation continues, but one question remains at the centre of everything: what happened in those final moments before Alan and Rick fell into the tank?