Luke Searle, 17, died after a malfunctionNick Irving of Exeter and Carl Eve Regional Crime/Live Reporter
19:11, 31 Mar 2026
Luke Searle, 17, died while working at Sherwell Farm near Plympton
A teenage farm worker died after being crushed by malfunctioning equipment, a jury has ruled.
Luke Searle, 17, had been operating a tractor and baling machine to wrap up cut grass bales used for animal feed as his older brother worked in a neighbouring field.
An inquest jury heard that there was a problem with the bale wrapper and Luke went to investigate but became caught in the machine.
The jury recorded that: “On the evening of June 22, 2022, Luke was seriously injured whilst wrapping hay bales on Sherwell farm, Plympton, Devon.
“Contributing factors are that the wrapping machine likely malfunctioned leading Luke to undertake investigation.
“Safe Stop procedure was not in place, during investigation the dispenser arms restarted, trapping Luke and causing chest and abdominal injuries.
“Medical treatment was administered on site but these injuries proved fatal.”
Due to Luke’s age, the circumstances surrounding this death was subject of a joint investigation between the police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The inquest at Exeter Coroner’s Court heard that farm owner James Williams went to check on Luke and found the machinery was not moving in the field and discovered Luke trapped and unconscious in the baler.
Mr Williams, who operates a farm partnership over five farms and 2,000 acres, called for help which included Luke’s older brother William racing to the field.
They freed Luke from the machine, gave him CPR but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The inquest heard that Luke’s family and the farm owners, the Williams, had been close friends for many years.
Luke was a student at Cornwall-based Duchy College on a two-year agricultural land-based engineering course, with 80 per cent of the course being on the farm.
Health and Safety Executive inspector Simon Jones told the hearing there had been a problem with the bale wrapper arms not rotating and Luke went to investigate the fault.
But as he did so the arms started again in an ‘unexpected and unplanned movement’ trapping him and crushing him.
The inquest heard the teenager had not put the machinery into a ‘Safe Stop’ mode before investigating the fault.
The jury heard that before any repair, the power should have been isolated, the engine switched off, and the controls put in neutral.
Devon Area Coroner Nicholas Lane told the inquest jury that the Searle brothers were very close and had a rural upbringing and planned careers in farming.
The inquest heard Luke was ‘a very sociable, well-liked young man who loved what he was doing’.
Mr Lane recorded a conclusion of accidental death before closing the hearing.