Farmer crushed to death when tractor fell on him

A farmer was crushed to death when he was thrown from his tractor and it toppled on to him.

Richard Norton Lewis, 50, had been working on a neighbour's hillside when he was killed in April 2022, an inquest was told.

He had been spreading lime on the farm near Tywyn in Gwynedd when a tyre popped on the lime spreader trailer, causing the tractor to lose control.

An inquest jury concluded that his death was accidental.

The jury at Caernarfon Coroner's Court were told the sound of the tyre bursting was heard nearly a mile away.

Farm owner Elfed Evans said he saw his friend being thrown from the cab of the tractor and lying motionless on the ground.

Mr Evans, who was visibly upset as he gave evidence, said his friend had been thrown "quite far" from the tractor, which then continued to tumble down the steep hillside on Bodilan Fawe Farm in Llanfihangel y Pennant.

"The tractor came down and landed on him, the roof of the tractor landed right on top."

Mr Evans said there was no mobile phone signal, so he rushed back to the farmhouse on a quadbike to raise the alarm.

Neighbouring farmers came to help, while ambulance crews and an air ambulance were sent to the scene.

Assistant Coroner for North West Wales Sarah Riley told Mr Evans it was clear he had done all he could to get help.

The inquest was told Mr Lewis had suffered fatal "massive crush injuries" to his head and upper body.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation was launched and the inquest was told Mr Lewis was a well-regarded farmer with 30 years of experience with agricultural equipment.

Investigator Robert Price told the jury that Mr Lewis was known to pride himself on his work and kept his machinery "well maintained".

The HSE report found the tractor had overturned due to the tyre on the trailer deflating and splitting from the wheel rim.

However, the investigation was unable to determine why the tyre had burst.