Farmer with 'history of seizures' died from brain injury after tractor crash in Dumfries and Galloway

A farmer with a history of seizures died from a brain injury after crashing his tractor on a farm in Dumfries and Galloway.

Brian McColm, 68, farmer and owner of Awhirk Farm in Ardwell, died on January 9, 2024, after an accident involving a tractor four days earlier.

On January 5, 2024, William Barry, a helper on the farm, spotted a red tractor sitting down a lane running parallel to a silage pit, and another blue tractor down a steep drop which had collided with a slurry tank.

McColm, who had a history of epileptic seizures, appeared with blood running down his face.

Mr Barry attempted to take the 68-year-old, who appeared agitated, to hospital but he was “determined to get the tractor out of the ditch by using the red tractor”.

After briefly leaving the scene, he returned to find Mr McColm on the ground having a seizure.

He was taken to Galloway Community Hospital (GCH) in Stranraer, where his condition deteriorated rapidly and he died from a subdural haematoma and traumatic brain injury on January 9.

An inquiry at Stranraer Sheriff Court said it was “impossible to identify” the cause of the crash, but the most likely reasons were that Mr McColm lost control due to a seizure or a steering system failure.

In his written determination Sheriff Garry Sutherland said it was clear the farmer had suffered seizures over a “number of years”

However, there were no reasonable precautions which would have avoided McColm’s death.

“Whilst I was unable to identify the cause of the accident that resulted in Mr McColm’s death, I was able to carefully scrutinize the steps that were taken after that accident by the emergency services and medical staff in assisting him”, the fatal accident inquiry read.

“In doing so it is clear that there is nothing that could have been done or done more quickly that would have saved Mr McColm’s life in the circumstances.

“I would hope that his family and friends, who have my deepest condolences, can take some measure of comfort from that.”