Father, 72, Dies in Desperate Attempt to Save His Son, 42, After Farm Tank Accident

A heartbreaking tragedy has claimed the lives of a father and son after the older man rushed to help his child when he encountered difficulties inside a slurry tank at their family farm in Cheshire, England. Alan Ford, 72, and his son Richard “Rick” Ford, 42, both died in the incident, leaving their family and the local agricultural community devastated by the loss of two generations in a single afternoon.

The incident happened on August 26 at the family farm in Aston-by-Budworth, near Northwich. According to evidence presented when the inquest into their deaths was opened, Rick had entered a slurry tank to carry out work on a pipe when he got into difficulty. Realizing that his son was in trouble, Alan went into the tank in a desperate attempt to rescue him. Tragically, neither man survived.

Emergency services were called to the farm on Cann Lane at approximately 12:20 p.m. following reports of an industrial incident. Police officers, firefighters and ambulance crews, including an air ambulance team, rushed to the scene. Both men were eventually recovered from the tank, but they were pronounced dead at the farm. The precise circumstances surrounding what happened inside the tank have not yet been fully established.

The deaths have raised concerns about the dangers associated with working around agricultural slurry tanks. These confined spaces can contain hazardous gases and have conditions that make rescue attempts extremely dangerous. When someone becomes incapacitated inside a tank, another person entering without specialist equipment can quickly become a second victim. Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the tragedy, and investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances.

Rick, who lived at the family farm, was a father of five. His death has left his children and wider family facing an unimaginable loss. Alan was also a respected figure in Cheshire’s agricultural community, having served as chairman and director of the Cheshire Agricultural Society before retiring from those positions in April 2026. Rick had likewise served as a director of the society for several years, reflecting the family’s long-standing involvement in local agriculture.

Following the tragedy, the Royal Cheshire County Show paid tribute to both men, highlighting the Ford family’s years of dedication to the organization. The society expressed its deep sadness and extended its sympathy to the family, saying Alan and Rick would be greatly missed. Their deaths have been felt not only by relatives and friends but also by colleagues and members of the wider farming community who knew them through their work.

An inquest was opened at Cheshire Coroners’ Court in Warrington before being adjourned to allow further investigations. Cheshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive are working to establish what happened and determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The family has asked for privacy as they grieve, while the investigation remains ongoing.

For those who knew Alan and Rick, the tragedy is especially painful because it involved a father’s instinctive attempt to save his son. What began as routine work on a family farm ended with two lives lost and a family facing profound grief. As investigators continue their enquiries, the community is left remembering a father and son whose lives were closely connected to one another and to the agricultural world they served.

Source: Gym Room at Home