The two girls were injured last evening when they were struck by a heavy steel bucket attached to the front of a tractor which suddenly fell on them.The accident happened shortly before 7pm.It is understood that the eight-year-old’s parents had been on holiday and were due to land back in Dublin Airport last night - where they were told the devastating news by gardai.The girl, originally from Latvia but living in Limerick, had been staying with family friends in Ballinakill near Newtownshandrom, when she lost her life.It is believed that she was killed instantly when the bucket frontloader fell after the tractor stopped suddenly.Her friend - an 11-year-old girl whose parents, also from Latvia, are renting the farm - was also struck by the tractor bucket and was airlifted to hospital.
Tragically, the youngest of the two was pronounced dead at the scene by a local doctor. She is understood to have suffered severe head and chest injuries in the accident.Paramedics were at the scene within minutes and transferred the 11-year-old girl to Cork University Hospital (CUH).She was this morning said to be in a critical condition with serious head injuries.Garda sources described the incident as a tragic accident.The scene has been preserved pending an inspection, in accordance with routine protocols, by inspectors from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA.)Newtownshandrum clergy visited both the scene and relatives’ homes to offer support to the shocked and distraught family.The accident occurred in one of the worst years on record in Ireland for fatal accidents involving children. The tragic incident was the third farm accident involving young children in recent months. In August Liam Lyons (5) died when he became entangled in farm machinery in a wheat field in Ferbane, Co Offaly. Fionn Mulhall (3) suffered crush injuries after he was trapped beside a JCB in a farmyard outside Drimoleague in west Cork on August 1.In total, more than 20 people have died on farms this year. - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/girl-8-dies-as-friend-11-fights-for-life-after-farm-accident-30623186.html#sthash.0t5BWxhX.dpuf[/QUOTE]
I said it as much here recently, the attitude of Irish farmers has to change. I understand in this instance it was a Latvian couple renting the farm, but the amount of farmers I know who believe themselves to be bulletproof is crazy. Some of the stuff they’ll do on the farm just to save a few seconds would put the fear of God into a normal person. They just don’t seem to see danger anywhere.
I know we all got up to shennanigans on farms when we were younger, but jesus christ 11 year olds running around under loaders is just mental. I cant even imagine the scene when this happened, I turn cold just even picturing the aftermath. Please God the other girl recovers fully, but I doubt anyone will recover from this scene.
My father used to go mental with us if we went near farm machinery or the slurry pit when we were younger. We always thought it was a bit OTT but looking back on it now it makes complete sense. Kids haven’t a fucking notion, and zero common sense when it comes to this shit.
Farms are lethal. Small things like, leaving the front bucket down before locking up for the evening are things that get forgotten and shit like this happens. Easy forget when you are busy (bit like not logging out of your laptop in the evenings) but the consequences are lethal.
There is an incentive coming from government shortly on improving farm safety. (partial grant funding). Too late for some.
[QUOTE=“Kinvara’s Passion, post: 1024439, member: 686”]Farms are lethal. Small things like, leaving the front bucket down before locking up for the evening are things that get forgotten and shit like this happens. Easy forget when you are busy (bit like not logging out of your laptop in the evenings) but the consequences are lethal.
There is an incentive coming from government shortly on improving farm safety. (partial grant funding). Too late for some.[/QUOTE]
An NCT style test for tractors wouldn’t go far wrong either.
Making check valves compulsory in loaders would prevent incidents like the above, it’s a requirement on sites and would cost fuck all to retro fit. My father is fucking lethal around a yard, ducking and diving around the tractor like its nothing, the mindset is wrong.
[QUOTE=“Kinvara’s Passion, post: 1024439, member: 686”]Farms are lethal. Small things like, leaving the front bucket down before locking up for the evening are things that get forgotten and shit like this happens. Easy forget when you are busy (bit like not logging out of your laptop in the evenings) but the consequences are lethal.
There is an incentive coming from government shortly on improving farm safety. (partial grant funding). Too late for some.[/QUOTE]
Check valves should indeed be compulsory on all Power Loaders fitted to tractors. I am presuming that someone pulled a lever in the tractor to drop the loader on those kids, it would be highly unusual for a bucket to simply fall off. In any case, no tractor should be parked up with a loader in the air.
What’s the latest pal? Did some more Intercounty types in college take a few minutes out from their busy day of preening and trying on buttoned up shirts tweet him a speedy recovery?
The radio ad for Deirdre O’Kane’s new movie. It notes hearty recommendations from, if memory serves me correct, Ray Darcy, Pat Kenny, the RTE guide and the Sunday World*.
*Edit: heard the ad this morning. It’s not the Sunday World but The Star but I think my point still stands.
Do Kilkenny people ever take off those jerseys or are they mandatory like uniforms? Still though good to see these boys have a bit of craic even if it does involve stripping for each other-maybe they are not the robots we are led to believe them to be.
