Boy, nine, who had his own pet cow, crushed in freak accident
A Nine-year-old boy with a beloved pet cow was crushed by a water tank in a freak accident, an inquest heard.
Talented rugby player Tomos Bunford died when the family-of-five were feeding their cattle together on their farm in Blaenllechau in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales.
The three children and their parents were in a pick-up truck taking water to their cows in September 2021 when it started to slide down the field.
Rhys Bunford, 36, and his wife Louise, 38, feared the truck towing the water bowser would fall over the cliff at the end of the farmland and told their children to get out.
Tomos, his older brother Gethin and baby sister Clemmie managed to escape from the doors but the water bowser , which weighed 4,490lb, hurtled towards Tomos and hit him.
He died of blunt force injury to the chest and abdomen.
Mr Bunford told the inquest in Pontypridd that Tomos “loved his computers and Youtubing”.
He said: “When we used to go to the markets he had a pet cow. We bought this little calf for him and he used to walk it with a lead around the yard.”
Describing the accident, Mrs Bunford said she pushed Tomos clear of the doors: “I went under the wheels with a baby on my chest.” She then saw Gethin and threw baby Clemmie to her big brother, who pulled her up.
Emergency services rushed to the scene but could not save Tomos and he was pronounced dead two hours later.
The inquest concluded that there were no mechanical faults with the truck but investigators found the bowser’s braking system was defective.
Assistant Coroner Gavin Knox said the outing “was a normal routine task that Tomos often did with his family” and that his death was accidental.
The youngster, who played for Pontypridd RFC U10s, was laid to rest under his favourite tree on the family farm.
The family now hope to raise awareness of farm safety.
Mr Bunford said: “We want the farming community to learn from us losing Tomos. You can’t be over cautious.”