FATHER DIED TRYING TO SAVE HIS SON — NEW DETAILS EMERGE IN TRAGIC FARM TANK DEATHS

CHESHIRE, UK — A father who died after entering a farm tank in Cheshire had gone inside in an attempt to save his son, a new inquest hearing has heard.

Alan Ford, 72, and his son Richard “Rick” Ford, 42, died after an incident involving an industrial silage tank at their family farm in Aston-by-Budworth, Cheshire, on August 26, 2026.

The latest details emerged during an inquest into the deaths, providing a heartbreaking new picture of what happened that afternoon.

RICK ENTERED THE TANK TO REPAIR A PIPE

According to evidence reported at the inquest, Rick, who lived at the farm, had entered the tank while attempting to repair a pipe.

He subsequently got into difficulty inside.

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

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

Police, firefighters and ambulance crews attended the scene and both men were eventually rescued from the tank.

Despite the efforts of emergency personnel, however, both father and son were pronounced dead at the scene.

A FATHER’S DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO HELP HIS SON

The new inquest evidence adds a deeply personal dimension to the tragedy.

Alan had not simply been involved in the incident at the same time as his son. According to the evidence reported by The Sun, he entered the tank after Rick got into difficulty because he was trying to rescue him.

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

The inquest was opened at Cheshire Coroners’ Court in Warrington by area coroner Victoria Davies.

The case was then adjourned to allow a joint investigation by Cheshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to continue.

ALAN AND RICK WERE WELL KNOWN IN CHESHIRE’S FARMING COMMUNITY

The deaths were particularly significant for the agricultural community because both men had longstanding connections with the Cheshire Agricultural Society.

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

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

Following their deaths, the Royal Cheshire County Show paid tribute to both men, describing the Ford family as having worked tirelessly for the society over many years.

The organization said Alan and Rick would be deeply missed by those who knew them.

THE DANGERS OF FARM TANKS

The incident also highlights the dangers associated with agricultural slurry and silage tanks.

Such enclosed spaces can contain dangerous gases produced during the decomposition of agricultural waste, including hydrogen sulphide, methane, ammonia and carbon dioxide.

Sky News reported that exposure to high concentrations of some of these gases can cause a person to lose consciousness very rapidly. Rescue attempts can also place additional people at risk if appropriate equipment is not used.

However, investigators have not publicly established the precise cause of Alan and Rick’s deaths, so the presence of hazardous gases should not be treated as a confirmed explanation for what happened to them.

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

The original incident occurred at a farm on Cann Lane in Aston-by-Budworth, near Arley in Cheshire.

Police confirmed that next of kin had been informed and that the family had requested privacy.

The HSE is involved in the investigation alongside Cheshire Police.

The inquest has been adjourned until February 25, 2027, allowing investigators time to complete their work.

TWO GENERATIONS OF ONE FARMING FAMILY

Alan Ford was 72.

His son Rick was 42.

Both had devoted years to the agricultural community in Cheshire, and their deaths left relatives, friends and colleagues mourning the loss of two generations of the same family.

But the latest inquest hearing has also revealed one of the most painful details of the tragedy: when Rick got into difficulty inside the tank, his father Alan went in after him, trying to save his son.

The full circumstances of the incident remain under investigation.