Emergency services were called to an incident in Co. Roscommon yesterday, Thursday, April 30, where a man had to be airlifted to hospital following an accident that is believed to have involved a chainsaw.

Ballaghaderreen Fire Brigade and the National Ambulance Service attended the scene of the incident at Gorthaganny, yesterday afternoon.

An air ambulance was sent out, airlifting the man to University Hospital Galway for treatment.

The man is understood to have been seriously hurt but, his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. The man is thought to be a farmer, though this is unconfirmed.

Calls to redouble efforts on safe practice promotion

Last week, Fianna Fáil senator Paul Daly called for a redoubling of efforts in the promotion of safe practice on farms and work places.

Senator Daly said the commencement of the silage season, coupled with the good weather and the fact that there are more people on the family farm (due to Covid-19 restrictions), means there is now more potential for accidents.

Expanding, he said: “Year after year the whole farming community continues to be devastated by tragic accidents on farms, many of them involving children.

Unfortunately, 2020 has proven no different and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the two children who have died in separate farm accidents since the beginning of the month.

The senator noted that there are approximately 140,000 family farms in Ireland, “each of which is a place of work where children, working adults and the elderly can all live together”.