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HomeDairy13-year-old saves father’s life after tractor accident
Catherina Cunnane
Catherina Cunnanehttps://www.thatsfarming.com/
Catherina Cunnane hails from a sixth-generation drystock and specialised pedigree suckler enterprise in Co. Mayo. She currently holds the positions of editor and general manager at That's Farming, having joined the firm during its start-up phase in 2015.
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13-year-old saves father’s life after tractor accident

A 13-year-old boy is being hailed a hero after saving his father’s life following a tractor-related accident on their Kanturk-based farm.

Kanturk Fire and Rescue, Co County who attended the scene, have described Brian Philpott’s bravery as “astonishing”.

Brian and his father were going mounting an agitator on the rear of a New Holland tractor; when it fell off its stand, pinning Declan between the wheel and the agitator.

“Declan could not breath with the weight of the agitator pressed against him which had crushed him in-between that and the tyre,” a Kanturk Fire and Rescue spokesperson explained.

“Within minutes, Declan had passed out and started to turn blue… Without thought, Brian jumped in the tractor and drove forward, allowing his father to breathe again.”

Key message

“This incident shows the importance of being alert and aware when using farm machinery and never take it for granted how quickly situations can change around farm machinery.”

Kanturk Fire and Rescue were called to this incident to assist the ambulance, who “were very quickly on the scene”.

“We had to help make sure Declan was handled in the correct manner from his position on the ground to the spinal board, and then into the ambulance. A further assessment took place before being Declan was admitted to hospital,” the spokesperson concluded.

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Machinery

According to the HSA, vehicles and machinery are the main cause of farm accidents in Ireland.

Its statistics show that in the past ten years, they accounted for approximately half of all farm deaths.

Being crushed, struck, pinned under, or falling from vehicles are the main causes of deaths with farm vehicles.

According to the HSA, the main causes of deaths with farm machinery are:

  • Being entangled in PTOs;
  • Crushed under a machine part;
  • Caught in a machine mechanism;
  • Crushed between vehicles;
  • Struck by a machine object.
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