Damme (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The teenager passed away from a farm accident that occurred during nighttime hours at his parent’s agricultural property. The teenage boy was operating farming equipment at the time of the accident.
A teenager passed away from fatal injuries sustained during a farming vehicle accident at his parents’ farm in Damme. The tragic occurrence took place during evening hours when part of the vehicle released without warning to fatally strike the boy in his head. Emergency personnel arrived to verify the fatal accident after the youth’s death.
The teenager died after the incident occurred at 6 p.m. inside Sint-Rita, a sub-municipality of Damme, while he operated an agricultural vehicle in the location. Reports indicate that equipment from the machinery broke free and resulted in fatal injuries to the boy. The family quickly reached out to emergency services, yet the critical injuries proved fatal to the victim. The public prosecutor’s office dismissed the need for a further investigation because of the obvious nature of the incident.
What is the history of agricultural accidents in rural communities?
Rural communities expressed long-standing safety worries about farming accidents, especially in agricultural centres like Damme, where agriculture maintains a critical role in the economy. Farming remains one of the risky professions because workers handle heavy machinery in adverse settings during extended operational periods.
Belgian agriculture depends substantially on the workforce but, at the same time, falls victim to machine-related accidents, mostly from tractors and harvesters, which rank as major causes of death. Safety regulations now exist to reduce risks because they enforce mandatory equipment tests and educational training sessions.
Family farm employees who help with work remain at risk despite safety measures that have been implemented.
