A teenager has died after falling from a tractor yesterday (Sunday, January 21), a spokesperson for the Health and Safety Authority of Ireland (HSA) has confirmed.

The HSA was notified of the farm accident at around 4:00pm yesterday evening.

The accident took place near Boulaglass, Newtown, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary – which is located close to the border with Co. Clare – the spokesperson added.

Investigators from the HSA are currently on the way to the scene.

This represents the first fatal farm accident of 2018.

Last year, out of a total of 47 workplace deaths, 24 farmers died in work-related accidents – with 14 being aged 65 or older.

Earlier this month, Teagasc and the HSA renewed a joint initiative promoting farm safety and health for a further three years.

The ‘Joint Initiative Agreement’ aims to provide research, training and advisory support to farmers on the topic of health and safety.

According to the HSA, the renewal of the joint initiative comes at a “challenging time for farming” – due to expansion in the sector and an ageing farmer population.

Bull attack

At the beginning of this month, a farmer in Co. Down suffered head injuries when he was attacked by a bull.

It is understood that the man was working with cows on Saturday, January 6, when he was attacked by a bull in a pen on his farm near Dromora.

The bull is believed to have flipped the farmer over the gate of the pen when he turned his back on him.

He suffered head injuries when he hit the concrete; but, he remained fully conscious. The farmer then managed to call for help on his mobile. An ambulance was then called to take him to hospital.