Farmer dies from injuries after cattle kick

A Shropshire farmer has died after he was kicked in the neck by one of his cattle.

Keith Preece, 62, who farmed at The Down, near Bridgnorth, was reportedly loading cattle into a trailer on 4 February when he was knocked unconscious.

Mr Preece was airlifted to the regional trauma centre in Birmingham but died two days later from injuries to his upper neck and head.

See also: Tributes to young farmer killed in farm accident

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When ambulance staff arrived at 2pm, the man was being looked after by his wife and a colleague, who said he had initially been knocked unconscious following the incident.

“By the time the air ambulance joined ground crews, the man had regained consciousness.”

The spokeswoman added: “The trauma doctor and ambulance staff carefully immobilised him with a neck collar and spinal board before he was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham’s trauma centre for further treatment.”

Dairy farmer Richard Yates, who is also chairman of the Shropshire branch of the NFU, paid tribute to Mr Preece.
 
“Keith was a true countryman, valued by his neighbours and his colleagues,” he said.
 
“His tragic loss highlights the dangers of working with livestock. We have to be on our guard at all time.
 
“The concern is that extra TB testing will lead to more incidents like this.”