Farmer dies after being run over by his own Range Rover

A well-known farmer died after being "dragged backwards" by his Range Rover, an inquest concluded.

Henry Stamford Thirsk, 74, was discovered by his wife lying near his Range Rover on the evening of 20 April 2022 at Glebe Farm in Everingham, East Yorkshire.

Coroner Paul Marks concluded the death was accidental with the cause of death confirmed as chest injuries.

Hull Coroners Court heard Mr Thirsk left the Range Rover in reverse when he opened his door and was subsequently run over as the vehicle "crept back" at around 7mph (11km/h).

Mr Thirsk's wife, Sarah Jane Thirsk, said she was "hysterical" upon finding Mr Thirsk lying in the field. At first she thought his body was "sacks laid on the ground".

Giving evidence, she said she had seen the headlights of the Range Rover and assumed he was watching a fox outside as he sometimes did.

She decided to go outside and investigate at 21:47 BST and found the engine running and two doors open, including the driver's door.

Discovering Mr Thirsk lying on his right side on the ground and not moving, Ms Thirsk began CPR.

She was on the phone to her brother James Clegg as she discovered Mr Thirsk, and he called the emergency services.

Despite the best efforts of Mrs Thirsk and the air ambulance, Mr Thirsk was pronounced dead at 22:45.

Roger Hughes, vehicle investigation worker for Jaguar Land Rover, told the court that if a Range Rover is in drive or reverse and the electronic park brake is not applied it can "creep forward" on its own.

Alexander Holmes, forensic collision investigator at West Yorkshire Police, said a pair of tyre marks found at the scene showed the vehicle had "rolled to a stop".

Humberside Police initially treated the incident as "unexpected", but, following an investigation, the force concluded there was no third-party involvement in Mr Thirsk's death.

Investigators found scuff marks on the heel of Mr Thirsk's left shoe which were "consistent with being dragged backwards".

By undertaking tests following the incident, Det Sgt Sam Cunningham from Humberside Police found the Range Rover would have been travelling at a maximum speed of 7mph and it would have "gone over someone quite easily".

Forensic pathologist Dr Christopher Johnson told the court Mr Thirsk would have died "almost instantly" from his injuries which included "massive internal bleeding" and were similar to those someone would sustain after "being run over".

A toxicology report confirmed there was no alcohol in Mr Thirsk’s blood at the time of his death.

Mr Thirsk’s son, Harry Thirsk, told the court his father had suffered two strokes and was "not the best" with machinery before his stroke, and "more unreliable" afterwards.

Steve Baxter, manager at H S Thirsk Farms since 2016, described Mr Thirsk as a "good driver", but said there was an incident Mr Thirsk had reported to him which took place in November 2021.

Mr Baxter told the court Mr Thirsk had taken one of his Rolls Royce vehicles on a shooting trip.

He said: "He thought he’d put the car into park, but as he was going to get out he realised he had put it into reverse. He accidentally hit the throttle instead of the brake."

Mr Thirsk was born in 1947 in Pocklington. His business assets included several farms and related properties in the Pocklington area, as well as The Feathers Hotel and the Stamford Bar and Grill.

He often drove around the area and stopped to see wildlife.

"This is nothing other than a tragic accident. Nobody is to blame. He was a well-loved gentleman in the neighbourhood and beyond," Mr Marks concluded.

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