Sunita Somvanshi
# Cheshire Slurry Tank Deaths: Father and Son Die in Farm Incident
If you work on a farm with a slurry tank, this story is about the exact moment that turns a routine repair into a fatal one. A father and son died last month after entering a slurry tank on their Cheshire farm, and the inquest that opened this week reveals how quickly it happened.
Alan Ford, 72, and his son Rick, 42, died at a farm in Aston by Budworth. Rick, a father of five, entered the tank to repair a pipe and became unresponsive. Alan went in after him to try to help and was also overcome. Cheshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive are jointly investigating. Coroner Victoria Davies opened the inquest, said it was necessary given the unnatural nature of both deaths, and adjourned proceedings to February 25, 2027.
Knowing the exact mechanical trigger, pipe repairs disturbing settled slurry, and the absolute rule of never entering a tank without a harness and breathing apparatus could save your life. This tragedy reinforces a stark reality: instinctive, unequipped rescue attempts in agricultural slurry environments are almost universally fatal. Farm owners must enforce strict, zero-entry protocols and invest in proper extraction equipment to protect workers and family.
The Hidden Danger of Slurry Gas
Slurry tanks produce a mix of gases, including hydrogen sulfide, methane, ammonia, and carbon dioxide. Hydrogen sulfide is the most immediately dangerous. It can cause rapid unconsciousness at high concentrations, particularly when slurry is agitated or disturbed, which is exactly what happens during a pipe repair. Once one person collapses, family members and coworkers often go in after them without protective equipment, which is why these incidents frequently claim more than one life, as happened in this case.
What gas is in a slurry tank? Slurry tanks produce a deadly mix of four gases: hydrogen sulfide, methane, ammonia, and carbon dioxide. Hydrogen sulfide is the most immediately dangerous, causing rapid unconsciousness and death at high concentrations, especially when slurry is agitated or disturbed.
The Health and Safety Executive’s investigation is ongoing, and the inquest resumes in February 2027. Farms handling slurry storage should review entry protocols now rather than waiting for the final findings.
