‘He had a heart of gold’ – farmer killed by exploding tractor tyre
13th February 2025
A 23-year-old farmer suffered fatal head injuries after a tractor tyre exploded while he was inflating it.
On 7th May 2021, Joshua Hardman was working at the farm in Lancashire, run by W Hesketh and Sons.
The father-of-one from Longridge had been helping one of the partners in the business, Bill Hesketh, re-seat and inflate a large tractor tyre.
As Mr Hesketh inflated the inner tube within the tyre, it suddenly exploded and the catastrophic release of compressed air propelled the wheel rim into Mr Hardman, causing traumatic head injuries.
He was taken to hospital and underwent skull and brain surgeries, but he subsequently passed away on 11th June after a further deterioration in his condition.
‘Heart of gold’
Mr Hesketh’s family described the farmer as a “very loving, caring, kind and gentle person”.
They added: “He had a heart of gold. He was also an amazing dad, and it is heart-breaking that he will never reach his full potential in that role.
“His five-year-old daughter will miss out on a great deal of love and affection and the role he would have played in her life.”
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that W Hesketh and Sons had failed to properly assess and plan this work activity.
They also failed to identify and put in place the measures necessary to control the risks involved when inflating large commercial tyres.
The investigation also found that the risk of an explosion was much higher because the tyre, wheel rim and inner tube were all in a poorly maintained condition.
A suitable and sufficient assessment had not been made to determine whether the damaged tyre, inner tube and wheel rim were suitable to be inflated safely.
W Hesketh and Sons, of Hutton, Preston, pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 2(1) of the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974. The partnership was fined £80,000 and ordered to pay £8,605 in costs.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Anthony Banks said: “This was a tragic incident, and a much-loved young man has lost his life. It could have easily been avoided with the right controls in place.
“HSE would like to make all employers aware that, before they undertake the inflation of large commercial tyres, they need to have correctly assessed the risk and have in place the suitable controls for the task.”
The thoughts of the Farmers Guide team are with the Family during this difficult time and their continuing hardships.
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