ELO Star's Tragic End in Rural Devon
Mike Edwards, a founding member and cellist of the legendary rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), met a tragic and extraordinary end in a farming accident in the Devon countryside. The 62-year-old musician was killed instantly on a September afternoon in 2010 when a massive, rolling hay bale struck his vehicle.
The Fatal Incident on the A381
The accident occurred at around 12:30 pm on the A381 in Halwell, Devon. A 600kg bale of hay broke loose from a steep field, gathering momentum as it rolled downhill. It smashed through a hedge and continued onto the road, where it landed directly on top of the white van Edwards was driving.
The force of the impact was catastrophic. Police investigations concluded that the brilliant musician died almost instantly. His vehicle swerved upon being struck and collided with another car. Fortunately, the second driver emerged from the incident relatively unscathed.
A Life in Music Cut Short
In his later years, Edwards had made his home in Totnes, Devon, where he was deeply embedded in the local music scene. He was not only known for his time with the globally successful ELO but was also a founding member of the classical ensemble Devon Baroque.
Tragically, he was due to perform with the medieval folk band Daughters of Elvin in Totnes on the very evening following his death. The news sent shockwaves through his community of friends, music pupils, and fellow orchestra members.
An inquest into his death revealed that Edwards suffered a fractured skull and spine. His brother, David Edwards, who was tracked down by police in Yorkshire, spoke out after the proceedings. He stated to The Guardian, "Michael's death was totally unnecessary and totally preventable if a proper assessment of the risks of baling on a steeply sloping field next to a public road had been carried out."
David and the family subsequently called on the Health and Safety Executive to highlight the dangers associated with baling hay on sloped ground near public highways. In a heartfelt tribute, David added, "My brother's death has touched so many people's lives... He will be sadly missed by us all."
Angus Gordon, the chairman of Devon Baroque, echoed the sentiment in an interview with the BBC, remembering Edwards as "simply the nicest guy and a brilliant musician" who was capable in any genre and a patient teacher. "I'm devastated," Gordon said. "He was a really likeable person and such good fun that I keep thinking this has been a horrible mistake."
