Farmer crushed between tractor and tree

A FARMER crushed between a tree and a tractor lay dying for several minutes before being discovered by his son.

Benedikt Gudmundsson, 80, had been feeding cows on his farm when the tractor slipped down a muddy bank and caused fat al crush injuries.

A fatal accident inquiry at Perth Sheriff Court was told that Mr Gudmundsson’s lifeless body was discovered on the farm by his son Benedikt jnr

he inquiry was told that he had parked his tractor on a flat piece of ground near the steep slope, but had left it in neutral with the engine idling and the parking brake disengaged.

Health and Safety Executive inspector Garry Miller said it was not clear if the tractor started sliding and the farmer tried to stop it, or if it had simply slid downhill as he climbed back on.

As the tractor picked up speed it raced narrowly past a small tree, and Mr Gudmundsson had no chance of avoiding being crushed between the tractor wheel and the tree.

Pathologist Dr David Sadler told the inquiry that bruising on the victim’s body suggested he would have survived for a few minutes after the crushing.

However, he added that the victim’s age, along with the severe nature of the blunt force trauma involved, meant there was no realistic prospect of Mr Gudmundsson surviving the accident.

The accident took place at 180-acre Dalmarnock Farm in Dunkeld, Perthshire, on September 17 last year. Sheriff William Wood said: “This was an act of colossal misfortune.”

Sheriff Wood said he would issue formal findings at a later date.