Crushed farmer urges rethink on farm safety

A Hertfordshire farmer crushed beneath 1,500kg of hay bales is backing calls for safer working practices after being told he had a 75% chance of never walking again.

Will Dickinson suffered 12 broken ribs, eight spinal fractures and a fractured pelvis when three bales fell from a trailer on his family farm near Harpenden. Now recovering at home, the sixth-generation farmer hopes his experience will persuade others to reassess routine jobs and the risks of working alone.

“I was doing a job I’ve done hundreds of times,” he said. “In hindsight I should have gone around to check if the bales were safely resting on the trailer.” The accident happened on June 20 as Mr Dickinson was loading hay alone. The trailer became unbalanced and three bales fell as he pulled a strap over the load.

Despite the severity of his injuries, his first reaction was to continue working. “I didn’t feel much pain at the time. I just thought I’d get these bales off me and crack on with work. It was only later that I discovered how bad the injuries were and the impact they would have on me.”

Mr Dickinson managed to reach his mobile phone while trapped and call for help. He was taken by air ambulance to the Royal London Hospital, where he spent six weeks.

The prognosis was initially bleak. “I was told at the hospital there was a 75% chance I would never walk again, which was a huge shock. I went through some very dark periods in those days after the accident. The thought of not being able to walk or care for myself for the rest of my life was devastating.”

Recovery target

Two operations on his back and pelvis followed. More than two months after the accident, Mr Dickinson is home and expected to make a full recovery. Prompt treatment at the scene and specialist hospital care mean doctors now expect him to make a full recovery from his injuries. He has two metal rods in his back and currently uses a walking frame.

“I’ve given myself a target of March next year to be back to how I was before the accident. I’m confident I will get there,” he said. “The care I received from the paramedics and from everyone at the hospital was amazing – it is now up to me.”

His wife, Jan Dickinson, said the accident underlined the importance of carrying a charged mobile phone. Mr Dickinson had previously used a phone to summon help after becoming trapped beneath dual tractor wheels in 1998.

“All farmers should have a mobile phone on them when lone working – if Will hadn’t been able to call for help and be treated quickly, his injuries could have been much worse,” said Ms Dickinson. “Will is so careful but these accidents can happen to anybody. I urge people to take extra care and prioritise their safety.”

Industry toll

Health and Safety Executive figures show 29 farm-related deaths across Great Britain in the year to March 2026, six more than in the previous year. About 8,000 farm workers suffer non-fatal injuries in Britain each year, including serious and life-changing incidents.

Mr Dickinson, a former NFU East Anglia regional board chair and NFU Hertfordshire chair, is supporting the union’s work to promote safer working. He chairs the Hertfordshire County Show and has campaigned through the NFU against fly-tipping.

“Farming can be a very dangerous job, with lots of pressure, often working alone for long hours, but you should never take your safety for granted,” he said. “I feel very lucky and I know things could have turned out a lot worse for me.”

NFU Hertfordshire county adviser Freya Samuel-Smith urged farmers to assess risks before starting work and remove them where possible. “Our message is clear, one serious injury or death on farm is one too many and no job is worth risking your life for,” she said.

The family has received offers of practical help, including with harvest. Ms Dickinson said: “Farmers have been calling up, offering to help with harvest and to help in any way they can. “We have been blown away by everyone’s support.”