Tragic farm accident claimed the life of 39-year-old Ballymote man

AN inquest at Sligo Coroner’s Court on Monday heard a 39-year-old farmer received fatal injuries when he was crushed by his tractor and trailer when they rolled back on him.

Mark Hargadon of Carrigeenmore, Marlow, Ballymote, Co. Sligo, died later at Sligo University Hospital because of his crush injuries. A self-employed part-time farmer, he was moving cattle at a trough on his farm near the family home on the evening of September 2, 2021, when the tragic farm accident occurred.

The Hargadon family told the inquest, which was presided by coroner, Mr Eamon MacGowan that “our only consolation was that Mark was doing what he loved best when he died, it seemed a momentary lapse cost him his life”.

The jury recorded a verdict of accidental death finding Mr Hargadon died as a result of severe crush injuries associated with ingestion and haemorrhage.

The inquest into Mr Hargadon’s death heard from Dr Paul Hartel, the pathologist at Sligo University Hospital, who carried out the autopsy on Mr Hargadon on September 6. He found that the farmer died as a result of severe crush injuries – also known as crush syndrome.

The inquest also heard that a Health and Safety Authority (HSA) report carried out by investigating inspector, Ms Veronica Helly in close co-operation with An Garda Síochána, determined that a Garda PSV inspection did not find any fault with the tractor handbrake and therefore it was unlikely the handbrake was fully engaged at the time of the accident. The report also found the accident occurred near the family home at Carrigeenmore and the events which led to the accident were not witnessed. The circumstances surrounding the accident were that Mr Hargadon had come home from his job at a nearby agri-store, had dinner with his mother, changed into his farm clothes and set off about his work between 7pm and 8pm. It is believed that he was going to move the cattle and their troughs to another field. Sometime after 10.30pm when he had not returned home, his mother, Theresa, having not been able to contact him by phone and hearing a noise from the field, raised the alarm with her younger son, Seán, and Mr Hargadon’s friend, Michael Brehony.

Seán arrived at the family farm shortly after 11pm and ran down the fields in search of his brother. On his way down, Mr Hargadon shouted at Seán which field he was in. When Seán arrived at the scene of the accident, he noticed the side lights of the tractor were on, but the tractor was not running. When he got to the back of the tractor, he found that the trailer hitched to the back of the tractor jack-knifed into the ditch pinning Mr Hargadon behind it. As Seán was about to move the tractor, Michael Brehony arrived in his jeep and ran towards them.

Seán rang 999 and another neighbour, Kieran Meehan, who joined them, gave the Eircode. After clearing an area for the ambulance, Seán returned to the house bringing his mother down to the accident scene with the duvets and hot water bottles she had prepared to keep her son warm. Seán returned to the house to collect his partner Lorna and they went to the council yard out on the road in order to direct the ambulance in.

Ms Theresa Hargadon, in her deposition, told how she covered her son in blankets and hot water bottles and stayed with him until the ambulance arrived.

The emergency services arrived shortly after and removed Mr Hargadon to Sligo University Hospital where he died of his injuries on September 4, 2021.

Mr Donncha O’Connor, the solicitor representing the Hargadon family, read a statement on behalf of the family who said they were “forever indebted” to their friends who came to their aid that night. They extended sincere thanks to An Garda Síochána and the HSA for the sensitive way they carried out their investigations, and also to the ambulance crew, hospital staff and the coroner.

The family’s only consolation was that Mark was doing what he loved best when he died. He was very safety conscious and even advised customers at work on safety – it seemed a momentary lapse cost him his life.

The solicitor said he knew Mr Hargadon on a personal level describing him as quiet, shy, and unassuming. He was an extremely hard-working individual, quick-witted and generous of spirit. He was a loving brother to Seán, Marie and Sheila and loving son to his mother Theresa and late father Anthony.

The coroner held that Mr Hargadon died on September 4, 2021, as a result of a terrible accident that happened when he was working on his farm and there was no involvement from third parties. He said the occupation of farmers causes most accidents and terrible tragedies adding “these accidents will happen, and we should try and ensure that they don’t.” Mr MacGowan extended his sympathy to the Hargadon family, as did Dr Hartel and the jury foreman. Sergeant Derek Butler sympathised with the family on behalf of An Garda Síochána.

The late Mark Hargadon.