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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.
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RIP Nevin you passed away while trying to save the lives of your father and brother. I commend your bravery. Such a tragic accident for the family my thoughts are with all of them and close friend.
Who the fk gives a thumb down to condolences being offered here? Jesus..show respect whoever you are…
There always seems to be about the same percentage of thumbs down on condolences. I’d hope it’s just down to smartphone users with chubby fingers.
Absolutely calamitous tragedy. What bravery by Nevin Spence and tragic that he paid the ultimate price for it. How Ms Spence will cope with the fact that 3 members of her family passed, I have no idea. I wish her well.
tragic!! R.I.P
This is too awful to comprehend, forget his great sporting talent I cannot comprehend how his poor sister will come to terms with this. God bless them all and R.I.P.
Heroic. RIP Nevin and father and brother. Thoughts go out to the mother and family.
Terrible tragedy. If anything good can come out of this, it would be new regulations that all slurry tanks should have life saving rings like swimming pools etc. There are too many incidents of such accidents claiming lives. Sympathies to the family.
So very sad. Thoughts are with his family and friends. Rugby lost a good’n. RIP
bloody slurry pits kill more people…!!!!!
there must b a safer solution to these death traps…
so so sad ,,rest in peace ..
Sky reporting now that the father tried to rescue the family dog who fell in, such a sad tragedy! RIP
I don’t know anything much about slurry tanks, other than seeing them around the place on farms. This terrible tragedy sent me off looking at how they are constructed and at several sites selling them. None place a major emphasis on safety, it’s mentioned in passing – eg ‘and safer too’ – like it was some sort of added bonus.
If these things were in an industrial setting, you’d have to enter through locked doors to get to them, and be admitted only when wearing suitable protective gear. This stuff is highly, highly dangerous – the gas it gives off has NO smell at high concentration and ONE breath of it can cause instant death. I can find lots of advice about the dangers of slurry and how to avoid them, but no binding regulations about the storage of slurry or how people should be protected from the risks (maybe they exist, I just can’t find them). It is obviously allowed for it to be stored in open containers to which animals and people wearing no special protective clothing have pretty ready access.
I don’t give a hoot about cost, or about current farming practices, or about whatever objections are made to support maintaining the status quo on this, this has to change. It won’t bring back these poor men, or help their family, who can never recover from such an appalling loss, but it might prevent it from happening again.
Katie !!! As You say in Your first sentence “You don’t anything about slurry tanks” !!!!! You should just leave it at that !!!
@Jimmy Dunphy Maybe you can enlighten us as to the inaccuracies in Katie’s observations, as you see them, rather than engaging in attack by exclamation mark.
Tragic! RIP! Very sad!
Terrible sad!! Brave lad to the end!
Horrific tragedy.
God help them.
RIP
Such a tragedy. Strength and hope to their family in the coming days and months. R I P.
That poor family. I don’t think I’d ever recover if that were my family. The pain they must be going through, I hope they find the strength.
Many people would do anything for their family, what a tragic outcome…….
heartbreaking RIP …
So tragic,R .I.P.My thaughts are with Emma and the rest of the Spence family.Hope Emma makes a full recovery the road will be rough for her but I hope she takes comfort in she has three people in heaven looking down on her ,god comfort you all.
so tragic. rest in peace mr spence and his 2 sons, and wishing his daughter a speedy recovery!!
Actually I think Katie has a point.
What a tragedy. May they all rest in peace.
P.S. I hope that people are not so cruel to be giving thumbs down and it is just a case of people being careless where they place theirs thumbs while scrolling.
Tragic, absolutely tragic, Our thoughts are with the rest of the family.
I’m heartbroken! RIP
A true legend, RIP, my thoughts are with the family! A true legend!
Rip ,so sad
RIP
you are in my thought:s and prayers
I really hope the dog story reported on Sky isn’t true.
Three people dying trying to save a dumb, worthless animal is just too much to comprehend.
speaking of dumb and worthless Steve – your comment is certainly both – certainly of no consolation whatsoever to the family.
Slurry pits should have iron steps at the manhole points. That’s the only safety measure that could make a difference in a case like this. Really doubt the dog story is true. Such a tragic occurrence.
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