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

A 72-year-old farmer died after entering a slurry tank in an attempt to save his son, who had become trapped inside while carrying out repair work at their family farm in Cheshire, an inquest has heard.

Alan Ford and his son, Richard “Rick” Ford, 42, died following the incident at New Farm in Aston-by-Budworth, Cheshire, on August 26.

Rick had entered the tank to carry out work on a pipe when he got into difficulty. His father then went inside in an attempt to help him, according to evidence heard at the opening of an inquest.

Both men were later pronounced dead at the scene.

FATHER ENTERED TANK TO HELP HIS SON

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

Firefighters, paramedics and other emergency personnel attended the scene and recovered the two men from the industrial slurry tank.

Despite the rescue effort, both Alan and Rick were pronounced dead.

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

An inquest was opened at Cheshire Coroners’ Court in Warrington on September 16 by area coroner Victoria Davies.

The hearing was then adjourned until February 25, 2027, allowing investigators more time to complete their inquiries.

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

Cheshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are conducting a joint investigation into the incident.

Authorities have not yet reached a final conclusion about the circumstances that led to the deaths.

Slurry tanks can be particularly dangerous because agricultural waste can produce toxic gases as it decomposes.

Experts have previously warned that gases including hydrogen sulphide, methane, ammonia and carbon dioxide can build up inside enclosed slurry storage areas. At sufficiently high concentrations, some of these gases can cause a person to lose consciousness very quickly.

Rescue attempts can also place additional people in danger if they enter an enclosed tank without specialist equipment.

BOTH MEN WERE WELL KNOWN IN CHESHIRE’S FARMING COMMUNITY

Alan and Rick were prominent figures in the local agricultural community.

Alan had served as chairman and director of the Cheshire Agricultural Society, retiring from those positions in April 2026.

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

The Royal Cheshire County Show paid tribute to both men following their deaths, describing the Ford family’s contribution to the agricultural community as longstanding.

The society said Alan and Rick would be “very sadly missed” by those who knew them and extended its sympathy to their family.

Their deaths have sent shockwaves through the farming community, where colleagues remembered the family’s years of involvement in agricultural events and organizations.

A TRAGEDY THAT BEGAN WITH AN ATTEMPT TO HELP

According to evidence presented at the inquest, Rick was initially inside the tank carrying out repair work when he encountered difficulty.

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

The father and son were ultimately unable to escape.

Their deaths have also highlighted the potentially deadly risks associated with working around slurry storage facilities and the dangers faced by anyone attempting an emergency rescue in an enclosed agricultural space.

For now, investigators are continuing to examine what happened at the farm.

The inquest will resume in February 2027, when further findings may provide a clearer picture of the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Alan and Rick Ford.