Farm owners investigated over deaths

The owners of a fruit farm where two labourers were killed in a machinery accident could still be prosecuted, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as revealed.

Matthew Lee, an HSE inspector, said his team had yet to complete its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident on Sheeplands Farm, near Twyford, Berkshire.

Mr Lee was speaking at the end of an inquest into the deaths of Adam Borowik, 27, and Sebastian Skorupski, 21, both Polish nationals, who suffered horrific injuries when they became entangled in a motorised rope-reeling machine.

Following a three-day hearing, an inquest jury in Windsor recorded verdicts of accidental death on Wednesday.

This was the worst agricultural accident I have ever seen. I have never seen injuries as severe in 30 years and I have investigated a great number of agricultural accidents Matthew Lee, Health and Safety Executive inspector

However Mr Lee, who described the accident on 19 October 2002 as the worst he had seen during his 30 years as an inspector, said the HSE could still decide to prosecute Hall Hunter Partnership (HHP) - one of the largest producers of strawberries and raspberries in the country.

He said: "The investigation can now be completed, a report prepared and a decision made about what, if any, action needs to be taken.

"This was a very tragic accident. We have to consider if there has been any breach of health and safety legislation by any of the parties involved - that could be the employers.

"It (the investigation) could result in a prosecution, but no decision has yet been made."

Farm owners "devastated"

Mr Lee said two similar machines to those involved in the accident on other farms have now been modified in line with HSE recommendations.

Gerard Forlin, who represented HHP at the inquest, said after the hearing: "The Hall Hunter Partnership, and all on the farm, have been devastated by this accident.

"The three partners all offer their deepest condolences to the families concerned."

Solicitors acting on behalf of the two labourers refused to comment.

At the end of the hearing the East Berkshire coroner, Peter Bedford, expressed his condolences to the two labourers' families, who did not attend the inquest.