R2OK!

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Tragic or stupid, I suppose both.

Two men died trying to save another - he was trying to save a DOG!

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/young-irish-rugby-player-dies-farming-accident-053144540.html
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John W

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Most decent pet owners are totally dedicated to their pets and to me it's quite natural that this man did his utmost to save his dog - I would have done the same

It's just a very unfortunate and sad sequence of events and I don't really feel that it's right for anyone to be using words like 'stupid' in such a case Sad

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John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

It's an unfortunate word for me to use. I do, though , get angry with people losing their lives in such fashion, not just for a dog, but these men were experienced farmers.

OK there will be an investigation but I have some knoweldge of the way of the law here and I won't be surprised if the HSE come out with a less than sympathetic conclusion.

Experienced farmers know the dangers of slurry pits - they are full of animal crap basically, decomposing animal fluids giving off toxic fumes like methane and H2S, killer gases than first of all kill your sense of smell so that after a while you are inhaling them at higher concentrations without smelling them, and you get overcome with their toxicity, and then kill you.

Farmers know that risk. The HSE will enquire if the farmers ever kitted themselves with filter masks when working near a slurry pit. Like having a box of filter masks nearby.

Filter masks 50 quid a box.

And it is a PIT, that means you can fall into it, and it's kinda difficult to get out of - IF you don't have barriers, IF you don't wear a harness attached to the barrier.

If building sites can put barriers up around big holes in the ground and builders wear harnesses or have scaffolding in any place where they might fall, why don't farmers do the same?

Barriers 50 quid. Harness 50 quid......

I assume the farm owner is one of the fatalities. If he had survived he might have been up for corporate manslaughter if masks, barriers and harnesses were not provided for his employees/family who died.

Just when the government want to 'excuse' small businesses from some safety inspections and regulations along comes this triple tragedy to, hopefully, make them think again.
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John W

Shaky Fan · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 628

It was a family farm. It was the farmer and his 2 sons who died - the younger of the sons was a promising rugby player and was destined for a big future in the Irish national squad - in fact he had actually been playing for Ulster the night before the accident.

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Sadly a further incident occurred near Wrexham yesterday when a young couple both aged 25 were swept away by flood waters and it is believed that they lost their lives trying to rescue one of their five dogs which they walked every day along the river bank

My heart goes out to their friends and relatives - Only last Saturday I actually had lunch in the local pub which is only about 200 yards from where this terrible incident happened and I know the area very well - it might seem irresponsible to some on here but the fact is that to true animal lovers like me pets are a part of the family and one's instinct is to try to help them if they get into difficulty Sad

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Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

I agree, Ruddles. I'm a dog lover and always look after friends' dogs when they are away. I think I'd instinctively jump into a river to save a dog regardless of the circumstances.