A 17-year-old farm worker died after being crushed by a malfunctioning bale wrapper at a farm in Plympton, Devon, an inquest has heard. Luke Searle, a student at Duchy College, was operating a tractor and baling machine on the evening of 22 June 2022 when the incident occurred.
The inquest at Exeter Coroner's Court heard that the bale wrapper had a problem with its arms not rotating. Luke went to investigate the fault but did not put the machinery into a 'Safe Stop' mode. The arms unexpectedly restarted, trapping him and causing fatal chest and abdominal injuries.
Farm owner James Williams discovered Luke trapped and unconscious in the baler. Luke's older brother William, who was working in a neighbouring field, helped free him and administered CPR, but Luke was pronounced dead at the scene. The jury recorded a conclusion of accidental death.
Health and Safety Executive inspector Simon Jones told the hearing that the machine's arms started again in an 'unexpected and unplanned movement'. The jury noted that a Safe Stop procedure was not in place, and that before any repair, power should have been isolated and the engine switched off.
Devon Area Coroner Nicholas Lane described Luke as 'a very sociable, well-liked young man who loved what he was doing'. The Searle family, who were close friends with the farm owners, have asked for privacy. The incident was jointly investigated by police and the HSE.
