Farmer died after his quad bike plunged over 60ft cliff
A FARMER driving a quad bike died after crashing through a fence and plunging 60ft down a cliff on to jagged rocks below, despite only travelling at a walking pace.
Sandy Robbins decided to go out alone to gather livestock in the remote Kyle of Durness area of Sutherland on March 31 last year after a workmate who was meant to have joined him could not do so.
A fatal accident inquiry yesterday heard that the 61-year-old diabetic, who had been married for 30 years, lost control of the vehicle despite it moving slowly.
The quad bike crashed through a fence, knocked down a small tree and fell on to the beach below. The inquiry heard that despite efforts from friends and medical staff, he died a couple of hours later at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
Farm owner David Elliott said Mr Robbins had worked the farm for more than 25 years and knew the Honda quad bike was no longer in use for farm work and should not be used without his family’s permission.
‘He borrowed it on the day of his death without asking me,’ said Mr Elliott.
James Mather, of the Visit Cape Wrath organisation, said he saw Mr Robbins’s dogs at the top of the cliff but there was no sign of their owner. He saw the bike in the sea and Mr Robbins lying on rocks. He added: ‘I went to tend his head wound and kept him awake as best I could. There was a lot of blood.’
A Coastguard helicopter was called as well as a local GP and an ambulance but Mr Robbins, described as a competent and slow driver, died of multiple injuries.
An examination of the bike revealed one brake was inoperative but the other three would have been sufficient to stop it.
The inquiry continues.