FARMER DIES TRYING TO SAVE HIS SON AFTER BOTH GET TRAPPED IN SLURRY TANK

Alan Ford, 72, entered the tank after his son Richard, 42, got into difficulty while working on a pipe at their family farm in Cheshire. An inquest has now heard new details about the tragedy.

A 72-year-old farmer died while trying to save his son after the younger man got into difficulty inside a slurry tank at their family farm in Cheshire, England.

Alan Ford, 72, and his son Richard “Rick” Ford, 42, both died on August 26 after emergency crews were called to New Farm in Aston-by-Budworth, Cheshire.

According to evidence heard at an inquest, Rick had entered the tank to carry out work on a pipe when he encountered trouble.

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

Despite the rescue efforts that followed, both men were pronounced dead at the scene.

Father entered the tank to help his son

The tragedy happened at around 12:20 p.m. on August 26, when emergency services were called to the family farm following reports of an industrial incident.

Firefighters, police, ambulance crews and an air ambulance attended the scene.

The latest account presented at Cheshire Coroners’ Court indicates that Rick had gone into the tank while working on a pipe.

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

The incident ultimately claimed the lives of both men.

An inquest into their deaths was opened at Cheshire Coroners’ Court in Warrington by area coroner Victoria Davies.

The hearing was then adjourned to allow investigators to examine the circumstances surrounding what happened.

Both men were respected figures in Cheshire farming

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

Alan had served as chairman of the Cheshire Agricultural Society before retiring from the position and as a director in April 2026.

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

Following their deaths, the society paid tribute to both men and to the wider Ford family, saying they had worked tirelessly for the organization over many years.

The society’s current chairman, Dave Leech, described the loss as devastating for everyone who knew the father and son.

The family has asked for privacy as investigations continue.

Investigation remains ongoing

Cheshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are jointly investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The inquest has been adjourned until February 25, 2027, when investigators are expected to provide further information.

Authorities have not announced a final determination of exactly what caused the deaths inside the tank.

Slurry tanks can present serious hazards because agricultural waste can produce dangerous gases as it decomposes. Experts have previously warned that enclosed agricultural spaces can become extremely hazardous, particularly when people attempt to enter without appropriate safety equipment.

The deaths of Alan and Rick have sent shockwaves through Cheshire’s farming community, where the father and son were remembered not only for their work on the family farm but also for their long involvement with agricultural organizations in the county.

For the Ford family, the tragedy has left a father and son lost in the same devastating incident — after Alan entered the tank in an attempt to save Rick.