“It is human nature to think it will not happen to me, but we are the example that it can, especially if farmers continue to take risks, whether major or minor.”
Those are the words of Jack Fisher, who recalls the tragic passing of his father, Peter, five years ago.
The 54-year-old suffered a fatal injury on February 11th, 2017, while unstrapping a load of straw bales on his lorry.
Four Heston bales collapsed off the side of the lorry while Fisher was rolling up a strap beside them, and he was crushed by the impact, as the young farmer explains.
Bales
Jack explained in a video as part of the Yellow Wellies (Farm Safety Partnership) campaign:
“Four Heston bales, weighing between 650-800kgs each, fell on him. He was not found until about 9, when the farmer’s wife went to put her horses out.”
“When she came around the front of the lorry, she saw his reflective jacket under the bales. The farm owner took the bales off him, but sadly, he was already gone.”
“Dad was a very experienced and heavily qualified driver who had been doing this job for many years.”
“He dealt with Heston bales all his life, and you would probably say he was one of the most experienced people when it came to handling bales.”
“You would not find anyone more safety conscious than he was. He was a bit of a worrier and would make sure that everything was right before he would do anything.”
Jack described his father as a “well-known real hardworking, happy and jolly” person.
Family
He revealed that as a family,they cannot understand how it had happened, and he said there is only one person who knows the story of what happened that morning; the late Peter.
“There is a big part of our family missing. We were devastated to lose dad in this way– an accident. It still hurts, and there is a lasting impact an incident like this has on the whole family.”
“Friends and the community have been so supportive, but, as a family, we have to carry on.”
They hope that someone hearing their story will just stop and think twice before taking a risk. That would be the best legacy for Peter, they say.
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