A retired farmer died instantly after suffering massive internal injuries when the hydraulic tailgate of a trailer slammed shut on him, a fatal accident inquiry has heard.
Peter Drysdale (80) was working with his son on Dalbeathie Farm at Dunkeld on September 8, 2009, when the horrific incident happened.
Mr Drysdale jnr (60) said he and another worker, Euan Simpson, had been tipping grain from the trailer to a barn when they were joined by his father. Mr Simpson moved the tractor and trailer outside, closing the tailgate as he did so. Mr Drysdale jnr also walked outside.
He told the inquiry at Perth Sheriff Court on Monday, “Just as the tractor and trailer was coming out of the shed I saw he was trapped and his feet were off the ground. I just saw a bit of his body and his legs.
“I shouted to Euan Simpson to release the tail door. I took hold of my father and supported his body and laid him on the ground.”
Depute fiscal Robbie Brown asked how his father could have become trapped.
He replied, “Being of the old school he was very thorough I think maybe when we moved out he’d seen a pea of barley flying about the trailer or something and he moved in to knock it off.
“He wasn’t that used to that trailer and obviously just forgot about it (the tail door closing).”
Mr Simpson said, “There wasn’t really any reason for him to be at the back of the trailer, so I’m assuming he was pulling the grain out, trying to help.
“Peter jnr said to him we were going to lower it (the trailer) down and take it outside. I understood him to mean both the tailgate and the tipper. It would be pretty straightforward to understand that’s what’s happening.”
He said he thought he heard the metallic noise of the tailgate shutting and had no idea the tragedy was unfolding as he drove forward.
“I knew by the way (Peter) was moving his arms and signalling that he meant me to open the tailgate. I ran round and he was lying on the ground.”
Asked by Mr Brown if there was anything that could have been done to avoid the accident, Mr Simpson said, “I wasn’t expecting him to go into the back of the trailer, so I would say no.”
He confirmed there are no alarms fitted to farm equipment to warn people it is in operation.
Mr Brown read a report from pathologist Helen Brownlow. She said Mr Drysdale had suffered a broken back and breastbone and widespread internal injuries and would have died “instantaneously”.
Local GP Katrina Hewit, first to arrive at the scene, said, “It’s my opinion he was dead upon arrival.”
Judgment will be issued at a later date.