Teenager dies after falling into farm silo

A teenage farmworker has died after falling into a 50ft high silo on a farm in the Scottish Borders.

Zach Fox, 19, from Hawick, died at Deanfoot Farm near the village of Denholm on Friday morning (1 August).

Fire crews from Hawick and Jedburgh cut a hole in the silo to pull the teenager out. Medics tried to resuscitate him but he could not be revived.

It is not known whether the silo was storing grain or silage at the time of the incident.

Police said they were treating the death as unexplained, although the circumstances were not thought to be suspicious.

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A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Inquiries are ongoing. Officers are liaising with the Health and Safety Executive.”

Tributes have poured in for Mr Fox on Twitter.

One blogger wrote: “Thoughts go out to the family of Zach Fox, such a sad day, rest in peace x.”

Another said: “RIP Zach. You were a lovely young boy and will be sadly missed. Taken far too young.”

Mr Fox is the second young farmworker to die in a silo-related incident in the UK in the last month.

In July, 22-year-old Arthur Mason died after falling into a grain silo at Larchwood Foods, Norfolk.