Farmer dies in quad bike accident

A Cumbria farmer has died after being crushed by a quad bike.

Colin Ellwood of Heathwaite Farm, Marton, was killed after he took his quad close to a stream to move some bulls belonging to a neighbour.

He was found by his father and brother, crushed beneath the machine, which had slid down the stream’s bank.

Emergency services were called to the farm at 6.25pm on Friday (5 August), but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue helped police to recover his body to Furness General Hospital.

A spokeswoman for the North West Air Ambulance said it appeared the quad had rolled on top of Mr Ellwood.

“He was dead when we arrived at the scene so we gave him no treatment,” she added. “Mountain rescue were called due to the location.”

The Health and Safety Executive said it was investigating the exact circumstances of the incident.

Mr Ellwood, 38, worked at the family business at Heathwaite Farm with his brother, Richard, and father, Clark.

He lived with his wife Helen and their two young sons.

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