A FARMHAND has told of her desperate attempts to save a respected rare breed cattle farmer from being crushed to death.

Terence Bailey, originally from Richmond, died after using a hydraulic post driver for the first time on March 13, a jury at Northallerton Coroner’s Court heard.

A post-mortem examination showed the 67-year-old died from severe chest injuries and heart trauma when the machinery fell on top of him after putting up fencing.

Mr Bailey was a well-known figure in the farming community for his herd of South Devon cattle that he showed at events, including the Great Yorkshire Show.

The hearing was told Mr Bailey, of Huby Grange Farm, Huby, near Easingwold, and farmhand Victoria Norman, 20, had taken the post driver back to the yard on a tractor.

She said: “I asked him if it was safe and ready to come off the tractor and he said yes.”

Miss Norman uncoupled the machine, then saw Mr Bailey standing behind it. “I saw it had started to lean, but then realised it was falling further towards Mr Bailey.”

Miss Norman shouted to Mr Bailey, but he did not hear, and as she jumped out of the tractor to warn him the machine fell on top of him.

“There was a horrible bang and I started to panic, and tried to pull it off him,” she said. “Then I used the tractor to lift it and move it away.”

Miss Norman tried to resuscitate Mr Bailey for 15 minutes and, because she did not want to leave him alone, watched an ambulance go past the farm twice.

Julian Franklin, of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said the post driver’s position made it an accident waiting to happen.

He said: “It should have been in a parked position with the main hammer arm tilted forwards towards its centre of gravity.”

The jury returned a verdict of death by misadventure.

The HSE is investigating the accident.

Caroline Poultney, secretary of South Devon Herd Book Society, said: “Terry always had a ready smile on his face and was particularly known to members in the northern regions and visitors to the Great Yorkshire Show.

“We offer sincere condolences to his friends and family.”