Three farm workers die in slurry tank accident
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Three farm workers died after falling into a 12ft-deep tank of slurry early yesterday morning in an accident under investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Three farm workers died after falling into a 12ft-deep tank of slurry early yesterday morning in an accident under investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The bodies were recovered from a muck-spraying container on a farm in Great Hockham, near Thetford, Norfolk. Initial inquiries suggest that two of the men tried to rescue a colleague who had fallen in but were overcome by slurry fumes.
An HSE spokeswoman said: "We do know that one man fell into the tank and we think the others went to rescue him but were overcome by fumes and also fell into the tank."
She said the slurry was chicken manure that was to be sprayed on to the fields from mobile spraying tanks owned and operated by the Thetford-based firm Enviro-Waste.
The men were pronounced dead at about 8am yesterday. A fourth was taken to hospital after inhaling fumes as he joined the rescue effort. He was treated at the West Suffolk Hospital but later released.
A police spokeswoman said the deaths were not being treated as suspicious and a joint investigation has been launched with the HSE.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments