FATHER, 72, DIES TRYING TO SAVE HIS SON, 42, IN TRAGIC FARM ACCIDENT — TWO GENERATIONS LOST IN ONE HEARTBREAKING DAY

Alan Ford and his son Rick were respected members of Cheshire’s farming community. Now, their deaths have left a family grieving and an agricultural community mourning two men who devoted years to the industry they loved.

ASTON-BY-BUDWORTH, CHESHIRE, ENGLAND — What began as a day of work on a family farm ended in an unimaginable tragedy when a 72-year-old father and his 42-year-old son both died after an incident involving an agricultural tank.

Alan Ford and his son, Richard “Rick” Ford, lost their lives on August 26, 2026, at a farm on Cann Lane in Aston-by-Budworth, near Northwich, Cheshire.

Emergency services were called shortly after midday following reports of an industrial incident. Police officers, firefighters and ambulance crews rushed to the scene, where the two men were found to have fallen into an industrial tank.

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

In the weeks that followed, further details emerged during an inquest, revealing the heartbreaking circumstances that led to the deaths of the father and son.

A FATHER’S DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO HELP

According to evidence reported at the opening of the inquest, Rick had entered a slurry tank to carry out work on a pipe when he encountered difficulty.

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

Neither man survived.

The circumstances have made the tragedy particularly painful for those who knew the family. What began as a routine piece of work became an emergency in which both generations of the same family were lost.

A joint investigation by Cheshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive is examining the incident. The precise circumstances and any contributing factors remain matters for investigators.

ALAN FORD’S YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE FARMING COMMUNITY

Beyond the tragedy itself, Alan was remembered for his longstanding contribution to Cheshire agriculture.

He served as chairman and director of the Cheshire Agricultural Society, the organisation behind the Royal Cheshire County Show. He retired from those roles in April 2026, after years of involvement in the agricultural community.

His work helped connect farmers, agricultural businesses and members of the public through one of the region’s best-known rural events.

Rick had also served as a director of the society for several years, continuing the family’s longstanding connection with the organisation.

Following the deaths, the society paid tribute to both men, describing the Ford family as having worked tirelessly for the organisation over many years.

The tribute added that Alan and Rick would be deeply missed by everyone who knew them, while extending sympathy to their family during an extraordinarily difficult time.

TRIBUTES REFLECT THE DEPTH OF THE LOSS

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

For many, the loss was especially difficult because Alan and Rick were not only father and son but also colleagues who had contributed to the same agricultural network.

Their deaths have left a profound absence in a community where relationships are often built over years of shared work, local events and a common commitment to farming.

The family has asked for privacy as they mourn. Behind the public tributes, loved ones must now face the painful task of coming to terms with losing two family members in the same incident.

AN INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

An inquest into the deaths was opened at Cheshire Coroners’ Court and adjourned to allow further inquiries to take place.

Authorities are continuing to examine what happened at the farm, including the circumstances surrounding the work being carried out inside the tank.

Until those investigations are complete, the full findings and any conclusions about the incident remain unresolved.

TWO LIVES, ONE LASTING LEGACY

Alan and Rick Ford were part of a family with deep roots in Cheshire farming. Their contributions to the agricultural community, particularly through the Cheshire Agricultural Society, mean their loss is being felt well beyond their own farm.

For their family, however, the tragedy is immeasurably personal: a father and son who went to work that day never returned home.

Two generations were lost in a single heartbreaking incident. As the investigation continues, those who knew Alan and Rick are left remembering their years of service, their place in the farming community and the lives they shared as father and son.