Farm tragedy underlines HSE message

07 July 1998

Farm tragedy underlines HSE message

By FWi staff

A FOUR-YEAR old girl has died after being run over by a tractor in Oxfordshire.

Despite the efforts of her parents, paramedics and police to revive her, the child died shortly after arriving at hospital yesterday.

The girl was in a field near the village of Witney when her father accidentally drove the tractor over her. It is believed she fell under the tract or wheels and suffered massive head injuries.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) officials are investigating. The accident happened less than two weeks after the HSE urged farmers to do more to protect children.

“This reinforces our message that farms are not playgrounds,” said HSE inspector Mike Sebastian.

More than 70 children have been killed in accidents resulting from farm-work activities over the past 11 years.