Firefighters were forced to cut open a silo in a desperate rescue bid after an industrial accident during which a farmer tragically fell to his death. The incident occurred at Orrell Farm on Orrell Lane in Burscough, Lancashire.
Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly before 5pm on Thursday, 21 May. Lancashire Police confirmed officers were called at 4.37pm, but sadly, the man, aged in his 80s, was found dead.
A spokesperson for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said fire crews attended alongside an urban search and rescue team. A neighbour revealed that crews had to cut open a silo on the farm in an attempt to save the farmer, who has been identified locally as John.
Despite the best efforts of emergency services, the farm's owner, believed to be in his 80s, died at the scene. His death is being treated as non-suspicious, and the investigation has been handed over to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
One neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said he had known John for several years, describing him and his wife as people who 'kept themselves to themselves'. He added: 'We saw all the emergency services arrive. The firefighters were working on the silo; I think they had to cut into it. It's so sad, he was a nice man, and had not long farmed all the grain from the fields. Even at his age he was still out on the fields farming.'
Another local resident believes John's family still live nearby. John is thought to have owned land surrounding the farm and on Orrell Lane. A neighbour witnessed a vehicle arriving at the farm at 3pm to collect the grain.
Photographs taken at the scene show substantial mounds of grain beside the silos at the back of the farm, close to the Liverpool-Leeds Canal, which runs through the rural village on the borders of Merseyside and Lancashire. A hole is visible in one of the silos, with several individuals examining the area.
A fire service spokesperson said: 'At 16:31 on Thursday 21 May 2026, three fire engines from Ormskirk, Skelmersdale and Tarleton, along with the Urban Search and Rescue Team from Chorley, attended an incident on Orrell Lane in Burscough involving the rescue of a person. Firefighters worked with paramedics but sadly, the person was pronounced deceased at the scene, and our thoughts are with their family and friends. Firefighters were in attendance for approximately four hours and 40 minutes.'
A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: 'At 4:37pm on Thursday 21 May we were called to reports of an industrial accident at a farm on Orrell Lane, Burscough. Emergency services attended and very sadly a man in his 80s was found deceased. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this difficult time and they are being supported by specially trained officers. His death is not being treated as suspicious. The Health and Safety Executive have been informed and a file will be passed to the coroner in due course.'
A Health and Safety spokesperson confirmed: 'We can confirm we are investigating.'
