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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Dauphin farmer, 66, left dead after being pinned by tractor

By: Alexandra Paul

Posted: 11/5/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

THE province's workplace safety and health division is investigating the latest farm death in the province.

A 66-year-old farmer who died in a farm accident this week was identified Thursday as Kenneth Bert Coombs of Dauphin.

Farm deaths in Manitoba

An average of six farmers die every year from the time seeding starts until harvest is done. There is no pattern to show more deaths occur during harvest.

About 70 per cent of all accidental farm fatalities come from contact with heavy machinery.

Farmers aged 60 and over account for more than 35 per cent of deaths.

Male farmers account for 90 per cent of deaths.

Most fatalities occur when farmers are working alone.

Source: Manitoba Labour

RCMP said Coombs was pronounced dead at the scene in a field 16 kilomEtres northeast of Dauphin.

The accident happened Monday; RCMP and paramedics arrived at the scene about 6 p.m.

Coombs was pinned between a tractor and trailer. There was no information released on whether the farmer was working alone at the time.

Coombs' widow answered the family home phone Thursday and said she and her son did not want to discuss the tragedy.

RCMP released a short statement, to identify Coombs and to say their investigation continues.

The fatality is the second farm death to be reported within the last month.

A 77-year-old farmer died in a farming accident in Niverville on Oct. 7. RCMP reported the farmer was still alive when paramedics reached him and he later died in hospital.

His name was not released. Police said at the time that the Niverville farmer was working by himself at the time of his accident.

There are half a dozen farm fatalities a year on average in Manitoba. This year, there have been seven to date.

Typically, in the case of incidents involving family members on a family farm, workplace safety and health works with the RCMP who have been on the scene. The province's primary focus is to determine the cause of death and to prevent similar incidents.

Men over the age of 60 represent the single largest age group among fatalities since 1983 on Manitoba farms, provincial data show.

alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 5, 2010 A6

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