Dad with ‘heart of gold’ killed by exploding tractor tyre

A business has been fined £80,000 after a dad with a ‘heart of gold’ died when a tractor tyre exploded at a farm.

Joshua Hardman, 23, was working as a farm hand in Grange Lane, Hutton, when the accident happened on May 7, 2021.

At the time of the incident, Joshua had been helping one of the partners in the business, Bill Hesketh, re-seat and inflate a large tractor tyre.

As Mr Hesketh inflated the inner tube within the tyre, it exploded and the catastrophic release of compressed air propelled the wheel rim into Joshua, causing traumatic head injuries.

Joshua was taken to hospital and underwent skull and brain surgeries, but died on June 11, 2021, after a further deterioration in his condition.

In a statement, his family said: ‘Joshua was a very loving, caring, kind and gentle person. He had a heart of gold. He was also an amazing dad, and it is heartbreaking that he will never reach his full potential in that role.

‘His five-year-old daughter will miss out on a great deal of love and affection and the role he would have played in her life.’

W Hesketh and Sons have been fined £80,000 after an HSE investigation found they failed to properly assess and plan the work activity.

They also failed to identify and put in place the measures necessary to control the risks involved when inflating large commercial tyres.

The risk of an explosion was found to be much higher because the tyre, wheel rim and inner tube were all in a poorly maintained condition.

A suitable and sufficient assessment had not been made to determine whether the damaged tyre, inner tube and wheel rim were suitable to be inflated safely.

W Hesketh and Sons pleaded guilty to breaching regulations of the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974.

In addition to the £80,000 fine, they were ordered to pay £8,605 costs at a hearing at Preston Magistrates Court on February 4, 2025.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Anthony Banks said: ‘This was a tragic incident, and a much-loved young man has lost his life. It could have easily been avoided with the right controls in place.

‘HSE would like to make all employers aware that, before they undertake the inflation of large commercial tyres, they need to have correctly assessed the risk and have in place the suitable controls for the task.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: Mum dragged woman to the ground in attack outside school after daughters fell out

MORE: Couple who bought £32,500,000 home can get refund over moth ‘infestation’

MORE: Dad jailed for 15 years for killing daughter, 14, with stab wound to the heart