Firefighters rescue boy from farm slurry tank

© Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue

Firefighters have pulled a teenage boy to safety after he fell into a slurry storage tank on a Lincolnshire farm.

The 15-year old was among a group of boys who had ventured on to the unit in Riseholme from a nearby housing estate in Lincoln. 

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue said he had scaled the slurry tank wall and fallen over at the top.

See also: Tributes paid to farm slurry pit victim

Luckily the tank was only a quarter full and the youth had managed to grab hold of a ridge 10ft down on the inner wall arresting his fall and preventing him from falling into the slurry below.

He managed to cling on until the fire service arrived and pulled him clear using a rope and ladders.

Deputy divisional commander at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Dave Gilbert said the incident could have been much more serious and urged people to think before they strayed on to farms.

“Its important to say that exploring is a natural part of the growing up process  and is completely understandable,” Mr Gilbert said.

“We want our young people to enjoy the great outdoors, whether camping, cooking or exploring – but our advice is to please use your common sense and think twice before doing things.”

“Thankfully in this case the boy was unharmed but the result could have been much worse.”
Lincolnshire Police spokesman Dick Holmes

Lincolnshire Police spokesman Dick Holmes added: “Thankfully in this case the boy was unharmed but the result could have been much worse.

“Farms are dangerous places and our advice is for people to stay away from them.

“As we enter the school summer holidays, we urge parents to make sure they know where their children are and what they are doing.”

The potential seriousness of the incident was underlined in farm fatality figures released by the Health and Safety Executive earlier this month.

The figures show that seven members of the public died after venturing on to farms while drowning or asphyxiation in grain and slurry stores accounted for the deaths of six farmworkers.