‘No foul play’ in case of man’s tragic farm death
AFATHER-OF-THREE was crushed by a tractor in a tragic accident at his son’s farm, an inquest heard.
The tractor rolled over Elwyn Morgan while he helped another man use a hydraulic log-splitter at Bryn Haul farm in Llanfair Caereinion, near Welshpool, Powys.
Pontypridd Coroners’ Court heard that the 71-year-old, of Fron Green Farm, Cefn Coch, died of his injuries shortly after the accident on March 27 this year.
Assistant coroner Nadim Bashir rejected evidence suggesting Mr Morgan had died as a result of foul play at the hearing yesterday.
The inquest heard Richard Welch, a friend of Mr Morgan and his son Andrew Morgan, would frequently come to the farm to split logs and perform other jobs, although he was not an employee.
In a statement read out at the hearing, Mr Welch said he parked his van near a barn on the morning of the incident to use a hydraulic wood-splitter attached to a tractor. He said he did not know how to drive a tractor and would only turn it on in order to use the machinery.
“I have known Elwyn for 10-plus years,” Mr Welch said. “I asked him if he could give me a hand with a piece of tree trunk. It was too heavy to move by myself. We positioned it by the splitter together and I told him I would start it up and see if it would split the wood.
“I went into the cab and sat down. I put my foot on the clutch and I tried the ignition key.”
Mr Welch said the tractor moved back about 2m and he turned off the engine immediately.
“I got out of the cab, I moved to the left-hand side, and I saw Elwyn lying on his left side with his feet towards the rear,” he said. “His head was on a piece of wood and he was groaning.”
A statement read out on behalf of Mr Morgan’s brother Richard Emlyn Morgan said: “I made my way to the barn and I saw [Elwyn] lying under the tractor and I thought the worst,” he said.
Emlyn said he helped Mr Welch pull his brother from under the tractor. Mr Welch then called an ambulance.
Emlyn said: “I asked Elwyn what had happened and he said ‘murder.’ He was trying to tell me something but he was getting weaker and weaker . ... A minute or so later he stopped breathing.”
He added: “I do not believe that this was an accident. It was too quick for it to be an accident. I think Richard has shoved Elwyn and he had hit his head on a log.”
Giving evidence PC Emma Hughes of Dyfed-Powys Police said she arrived at the scene at about 11.50am.
Asked about Mr Welch’s demeanour, she said: “He was very distressed and he was very concerned about Elwyn. He kept asking how he was.”
Mr Bashir asked PC Hughes if police had any concerns about foul play or third-party involvement.
She replied: “From what I understand there are no concerns.”
Mr Morgan’s son Andrew, who owns the farm, told the inquest: “I believe what happened was an accident.”
Mr Bashir accepted the cause of death as crushing injuries and recorded a conclusion of accidental death.