Freak accident killed farmer

HAROLD CROWTHER - accident

A GREENFIELD farmer died after he was hit by a bale of hay in a freak accident, an inquest heard.

Harold Crowther (81) was standing at the back of a lorry delivering hay to his farm when a 200kg bale toppled off and knocked him to the ground.

He fractured several ribs and was taken to Tameside Hospital but later developed pneumonia. He died in hospital more than two months after the accident, on May 22 this year.

His family said despite arthritis and a mini-stroke a few years earlier, he was still a very fit man.

On the day of the accident, Mr Crowther had gone out to talk to the lorry driver, Alan Brightmore, while his grandson used a tractor to unload the bales.

Mr Brightmore described how a bale fell and caught Mr Crowther with what he thought was a glancing blow. He couldn’t explain how it had come loose.

Helped by Mr Crowther’s son, Christopher, he lifted the pensioner into a chair.

Later tests revealed he had multiple rib fractures plus severe heart disease which made it much more difficult for him to recover.

A post-mortem examination found he died from pneumonia caused by chest injuries and contributed to by his existing heart disease and a blood clot on his lungs.

Health and Safety Executive officers said there was no evidence to suggest it was anything more than an accident.

A jury at the Stockport hearing took only 30 minutes to return a verdict of accidental death.