Two men die after falling into slurry tank on farm

Two men have died after falling into a slurry tank at a farm in Cheshire.

The men, aged 72 and 42, were pulled from the industrial slurry tank at a farm on Cann Lane in Aston by Budworth, at 12.20pm on Wednesday.

They were both pronounced dead at the scene.

A slurry tank is used on a farm to collect and hold animal waste, urine and other materials until it can be safely used as fertiliser.

Cheshire Police said: "Police, fire and ambulance attended the scene and on arrival they found that two men had fallen into an industrial slurry tank."

"The men, aged 72 and 42, were rescued from the tank by emergency services, but sadly despite the best efforts of all those involved, they were pronounced dead at the scene."

Cheshire Police said earlier that the men had died in a silage tank, which is used to store fermented animal feed.

The men's next of kin have been informed and an investigation is under way into the "circumstances surrounding the incident".

"The family have requested for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time," Cheshire Police said.

A slurry pit is a tank, that is usually below ground level or partially covered, used to store animal waste mixed with water.

Once decomposition begins it produces toxic gases that build up in the enclosed space including methane, hydrogen sulphide, ammonia and carbon dioxide.

Exposure to these gases can cause unconsciousness in seconds.

Rescue attempts frequently result in multiple casualties when others attempt to provide assistance without proper equipment.

Read more from Sky News:
AI helps perform brain surgery
Victims named in Middlesbrough fire

Hydrogen sulphide poses a particular danger on farms, with dangerous concentrations being released when slurry is mixed.

At high concentrations it can render a person unconscious in a single breath, resulting in death.

Deaths on farms involving slurry tanks are known to occur.

In 2012 in Northern Ireland, Ulster rugby player Nevin Spence, his brother Graham and father Nevin all died in a slurry pit. The brothers were attempting to rescue their father after he fell in.

(c) Sky News 2026: Two men die after falling into slurry tank on farm