A Northern Irish farmer has tragically lost his life in an agricultural accident, with investigations currently ongoing to determine the cause of death.

Richard Ruddell, 55, passed away on July 26 at his farm near Lurgan, Co Armagh.

According to reports, the father of three was a well-known figure in the local farming community.

A police spokesperson stated: “Officers attended the scene alongside colleagues from other emergency services.

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“The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been informed.”

The Health and Safety Executive added: “HSE NI were informed of an incident on a farm in the Lurgan area on 26 July.

“Inspectors have attended the scene and are making further enquiries.”

This incident follows the death of another farmer in Dromore, Co Tyrone earlier this month.

In Northern Ireland alone, seven farm-related workplace fatalities occurred during the 2023/2024 period, according to newly released figures from HSE.

Across the UK as a whole, 34 people lost their lives on farms over the past year.

Yellow Wellies, the organisation behind the annual Farm Safety Week, emphasised that farming, despite being crucial for food security and economic growth, remains a high-risk industry.

The charity noted: “The fact is that there are more risks associated with farming than any other industry and while we can’t eliminate them completely, we can, and have, to minimise them.

"In our 2023 research, 88% of farmers in the UK believe that ‘complacency’ – always having it done that way – is a major contributor to having a farm accident while 82% cite’ attitude’ as the major contributor."

"For over a decade now, Farm Safety Week has been an important focus in the farming calendar, and we are proud to manage and fund it."