Couple electrocuted in farming accident

The Mid-Canterbury community of Mayfield is in mourning after a well-known farming couple were electrocuted yesterday.

The dead couple were Shirley Kathryn Donaldson and Owen Lionel Donaldson.

They were towing an auger behind a tractor when it struck 22,000-volt power lines on Montrose Station, north-west of Ashburton, about 10.20am.

The couple's son, Andrew, who works on the farm, was in the workshop, heard the bang and rushed to the scene.

The auger was still in contact with the power lines when he got there, and he used his cellphone to hit the hydraulic button to lower it.

He then attempted CPR on his mother, but to no avail.

Firefighter Robert Read said it was a terrible loss for the community.

"The couple had farmed the farm for a long time," he said. "They were well known in the community, involved with outside organisations and well thought of," he said.

Federated Farmers Mid-Canterbury president Michael Morrow said it was a sad day.

"I think it falls under the category of a genuine tragedy," he said. "They were two long-standing, much-respected and much-loved members of the community.

"When people like that get taken in a sudden tragic accident like that, it hits the community hard."

Morrow said the rural community was already offering the family its support.

"When you live in a very tight-knit community, they do rally around," he said.

"The family is already seeing that kick into gear. It's a very busy time, but the community will make sure the family and property get supported to get them through this spell."

Farming is among New Zealand's most dangerous occupations, with 20 work-related deaths in the year to last June.

Morrow said farm accidents were rare in Mid-Canterbury.

"Mid-Canterbury is a heavily mechanised area it's the grain and seed bowl of the country," he said.

"There's a lot of machinery and we don't see a lot of accidents for the amount of stuff happening on any given day.

"There will be a thorough investigation, and if there's something to be learnt we will learn from that."

 

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