Two Men Die in Cheshire Farm Silage Tank Incident
A 72-year-old and a 42-year-old were pronounced dead at the scene in Aston by Budworth after falling into an agricultural waste tank.
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Carla Rooney
Two men died yesterday after falling into a silage tank on a farm in Aston by Budworth, Cheshire.
Cheshire Police initiated an investigation into the incident. Details remain undisclosed regarding the men's conditions, the tank's contents, or how the fall occurred.
Police have not officially confirmed the names of the deceased. Next of kin have been notified and requested privacy.
Silage tanks, common on agricultural premises, collect and store liquid livestock waste, urine, and other materials. Farmers then apply these contents as fertiliser.
These slurry pits generate a dangerous build-up of gases as animal waste decomposes in water. Hydrogen sulphide, methane, ammonia, and carbon dioxide all accumulate.
Such toxic fumes can render a person unconscious within seconds. Hydrogen sulphide, at high concentrations, reportedly incapacitates someone in a single breath, proving fatal.
Attempted rescues by bystanders without appropriate protective equipment frequently lead to additional casualties.