Overview
- An Exeter Coroner’s Court jury on Tuesday recorded an accidental death for Luke Searle, 17, who died in June 2022 at Sherwell Farm in Plympton.
- Health and Safety Executive inspector Simon Jones said a fault stopped the bale-wrapper arms from rotating, then the arms restarted unexpectedly and trapped him.
- Jurors found a Safe Stop was not in place, which means power should be isolated with the engine off and the controls in neutral before any check or repair.
- Farm owner James Williams and Luke’s brother William freed him and gave CPR, yet he was pronounced dead at the scene after on-site treatment.
- The case prompted a joint police and HSE inquiry and highlighted the risks faced by college students training with heavy agricultural equipment.