Horsham dad crushed by hay bales at Surrey farm

Christopher Rolfe, from Horsham, says he was "lucky to come away with just a broken hip and leg fractures" following the horrific incident in April 2022.

Christopher, then 26, had gone into a barn at Polesden Lacey Farm in Surrey to collect bales that were being delivered to customers.

The bales had been stored on a layer of pallets to keep them off the barn floor, which was damp at the time, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said.

As he was removing the pallets to reach the stack of bales, an entire column of five toppled over and crushed him against the floor.

Christopher lay trapped screaming for help until a nearby dog walker heard his cries and alerted the emergency services.

He was airlifted to hospital (Image: SWNS)

He was airlifted to hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.

He suffered fractures to his pelvis and ankle as well as four of his ribs.

Christopher had to undergo months of rehabilitation to regain his mobility.

An HSE inquiry was opened in the aftermath and, last week, farming partnership F Conisbee and Sons Ltd was fined £36,000 and ordered to pay £4,986 in costs at Staines Magistrates’ Court.

The company, of Ockham Road South, East Horsley, Surrey, had pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 10 (4) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

Christopher said following the verdict: “I was lucky to come away with just a broken hip and leg fractures. I was later told that if I had gone by road to the hospital I would have died.

Chris outside St George's Hospital (Image: SWNS)

“But at the time, I didn’t even want to go to hospital. The biggest thing that went through my mind at the time was that I’d just ruined my summer,.

“Having spoken to the staff at Kent Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance, I’ve come to realise just how important they are. When I needed them, they were there.

"My son, who’s now seven, is even a young ambassador for them. So something really good has come from a really bad situation.

“My outlook on what happened is that I can’t change it, but I have to deal with what I’ve got.”

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Christopher has since resumed a career in farming.

Christopher Rolfe with his family (Image: SWNS)

The HSE investigation found the poorly constructed stack of bales had not been stacked on firm, dry, level, freely draining ground but instead on top of old pallets as the barn floor was uneven and prone to waterlogging.

The bales were placed in vertical columns and were not “tied in” by alternating the layers so the bales overlap and stop the stack from splitting, it was said.

The company had also failed to identify safe working methods for unstacking bales.

The improperly stacked hay bales (Image: SWNS)

HSE guidance states the bottom of a stack should set up a dry, sturdy foundation for all additional bales.

Bales should all be “tied in” and the stack should be monitored to ensure it remains stable.

HSE inspector Sally Parkes said: “This accident would have been easily avoided if the farm had followed the guidance published by either HSE or the National Farmers Union on the safe stacking of bales.

"Stacking bales requires skill and should be overseen directly by someone with knowledge of the industry guidance.

“Health and safety is a fundamental requirement of a sustainable farming business yet over the last ten years, almost one person a week is killed and many more are seriously injured as a result of agricultural work.

“Even with the considerable financial stain on UK farming, prioritising health and safety not only ensures workers are kept safe but also improves wellbeing and health outcomes alongside supporting productivity and efficiency on farms.”