Northern Ireland

Man killed in farming incident in Broughshane

Victim has been named locally as Noel Boyd

Noel Boyd, of Broughshane, Co Antrim, died following a farming incident on Wednesday afternoon.
Noel Boyd, of Broughshane, Co Antrim, died following a farming incident on Wednesday afternoon.

A man has died following a suspected farming accident in Co Antrim.

The incident happened on Wednesday afternoon at a farm in the Broughshane area. The man has been named locally as Noel Boyd, a father-of-three.

A PSNI spokesperson confirmed officers attended the scene of a sudden death in the Lisnamurrikin Road area.

They added: “The death is not being treated as suspicious.”

The Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) said it was aware of the incident and a spokesperson added they are “continuing to make enquiries”.

A death notice for Mr Boyd said he died suddenly as “the result of a farm accident”.

It described him as the “dearly loved husband of Sandra...much loved father of Patricia, David and Robert, father-in-law of Jason, dear brother of Pat, Albert, Robert, Maurice, Anna May, Jennifer, Leonard, and the late Trevor and a dear brother-in-law and uncle”.

The tragedy follows the death of 55-year-old father-of-three Richard Ruddell in a farming accident near Lurgan, Co Armagh, last month.

In May, a man in his 70s was killed in an accident in the Garvagh area of Co Derry, in which two other people were injured.



Speaking of Wednesday’s death, DUP Mid and East Antrim councillor for the Braid area, William McCaughey, said: “My heart goes out to the family who have been devastated by this tragic loss.

“I grew up on a farm myself, and know there are many dangers faced by those who do this vital work.

“This is a terrible tragedy for the community here and our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time.”

HSENI data shows that a total of six people lost their lives in workplace accidents on farms in the north last year. In the decade leading up to the start of this year, a total of 57 people died in farming accidents.