Grain silo death ‘not suspicious’, say police

The death of a man who fell into a grain silo at a family farming business in Norfolk is not being treated as suspicious, police have confirmed.

Officers were called to Larchwood Foods in Swaffam Road, Fincham, at 11.05am on Wednesday (9 July) following reports of an industrial incident.

Emergency services attended, but the many was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

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Police have not named the deceased and said no further information would be released until after an inquest has been opened.

A spokesman for Norfolk Constabulary said: “Following investigations by Kings Lynn CID officers and representatives from the Health and Safety Executive, the man’s death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner, which will be handed over in due course.

No further information about the deceased will be released prior to the opening of the inquest.

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: “We were alerted to Fincham near Kings Lynn at 11am on Wednesday morning.

“An ambulance, a duty officer, rapid response car, the trust’s hazardous area response team and Magpas Helimedix attended the scene. Our crews are also working closely with Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service and Norfolk Constabulary.”

According to its website, Larchwood Foods is a family-run business owned by the Mason family.

The family has been farming in Norfolk for more than 200 years in and around Fincham.

Hugh Mason took over running the farm from his father, Maurice, when he was 22. The farms grow rapeseed wheat and sugar beet across 5,000 acres of land.

Larchwood Foods produces a range of extra-virgin, cold pressed rapeseed oil for the retail, food service and manufacturing sectors under the brand name Mr Hugh’s.

Last year, the firm invested in state-of-the-art oilseed processing and bottling facilities alongside its storage barns, dryers, and offices.