Pictured: Teenager, 17, who died in a bale wrapper accident on a Devon farm
- Luke Searle (17) died in a bale wrapper incident on a farm
- The ‘beautiful soul’ was injured while working last month and died on the spot
- Police and Health and Safety Executive start joint investigation into death
A 17-year-old teenager who died after an incident at a Devon farm has been named by police.
Tributes are pouring in for ‘beautiful soul’ Luke Searle who suffered serious injuries while working at Sherwell Farm, in the Plympton area of Plymouth.
He was injured in an incident involving a bale wrapping machine on Wednesday evening, June 22.
Firefighters, police, air and land ambulances were all on hand, but the teen was pronounced dead at the scene.
Due to Luke’s age and the circumstances surrounding his death, a joint investigation has been launched by the police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Luke Searle, 17, died in a bale wrapper incident at Sherwell Farm
Farmer’s Weekly reported that the worker was trapped and killed in an incident involving a bale wrapper. Despite their best efforts, the young farmer was announced dead on the spot.
The accolades are pouring in for the teen. A local said: ‘RIP beautiful soul, may you rest with the angels in paradise. Much love and condolences to your family and friends.’
Another wrote: ‘Such a beautiful young man. [I’m sending] healing thoughts and love for Luke’s family.”
While someone else on social media said: ‘It pains me from the bottom of my heart that we will never see you again Luke, but we promise to give you the goodbye you deserve.’
His family has asked for privacy as they come to terms with their loss, in a statement from Devon and Cornwall Police.
The teenage farmer tragically got trapped in a hay baler and died on June 22. Pictured: A hay baler machine pulled by a tractor, unloading a compressed straw bale from behind into a field of recently harvested barley (file image)
It read: ‘A teenager who died after a tragic incident on a farm in Plympton has been named. Ambulance services contacted police on the evening of Wednesday, June 22, following reports of a teenager who suffered serious injuries while working at Sherwell Farm in the Plympton area of Plymouth.
“Fire, police, air and land ambulances all arrived at the scene, but tragically, the teenager was pronounced dead at the scene.
Since then, he has been listed as 17-year-old Luke Searle who lived in the area. His family has asked for privacy as they process their loss.
“Due to Luke’s age, the circumstances surrounding this death will be the subject of a joint investigation between the police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).”