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The farm on the outskirts of Hillsborough Co Down, where young rugby star Nevin Spence died alongside his brother and his father when they fell into a slurry tank. Paul Faith/PA Wire

Nevin Spence and sister Emma went to the aid of father and brother

The Ulster rugby player died, along with his father and brother, after entering a slurry pit on the family farm in Co Down.

IT’S EMERGED THAT young Ulster rugby star Nevin Spence, who died after entering a slurry pit on his family’s farm yesterday, went to the aid of his father and brother.

Spence and his sister Emma went into the tank after their father Noel first fell into the pit. Their older brother Graham went in after him but got into difficulty.

Sky News reports that Nevin and Emma then attempted to rescue Noel and Graham. The three men all died, while Emma is being treated in hospital for fume inhalation.

Golfer Rory McIllory and the North’s First Minister Peter Robinson are among those paying tribute to the Spence family.

Twenty-two-year-old Nevin played for Ulster and had trained with Ireland’s 6 Nations squad earlier in the year.

Emergency crews attended the scene at Drumlough Road outside Hillsborough in Co Down just after 6pm yesterday following a 999 call. The four were pulled from the slurry pit and although one of the men showed initial signs of responding, he died a short time later at Lagan Valley Hospital.

Ulster star Nevin Spence dies in accident on Co. Down farm>

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