This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/sep/16/ulster-rugby-dies-father-farm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Young Ulster rugby star dies trying to save father on family farm | Young Ulster rugby star dies trying to save father on family farm |
| (7 days later) | |
| The rising Ireland and Ulster rugby star Nevin Spence died trying to save his father and brother from a slurry tank on their family farm, it emerged on Sunday. | The rising Ireland and Ulster rugby star Nevin Spence died trying to save his father and brother from a slurry tank on their family farm, it emerged on Sunday. |
| The 22-year-old was killed along with his father, Noel, and brother Graham in the accident on the farm outside Hillsborough in County Down on Saturday evening. It is understood that one or both brothers went into the slurry pit to rescue their father, who had fallen inslipped into it around teatime. | The 22-year-old was killed along with his father, Noel, and brother Graham in the accident on the farm outside Hillsborough in County Down on Saturday evening. It is understood that one or both brothers went into the slurry pit to rescue their father, who had fallen inslipped into it around teatime. |
| Jeffrey Donaldson, the local MP, who knew the family, said Nevin's decision to try to save his father was "wholly characteristic of this fine young man". Donaldson said the rugby player and farmer "would go the extra mile for anyone, so it doesn't surprise me he would have risked his life for his family". | Jeffrey Donaldson, the local MP, who knew the family, said Nevin's decision to try to save his father was "wholly characteristic of this fine young man". Donaldson said the rugby player and farmer "would go the extra mile for anyone, so it doesn't surprise me he would have risked his life for his family". |
| Nevin's sister, Emma, is in a stable condition in the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast, after she joined the rescue but was overcome by the tank's toxic fumes. Graham, 30, was married with two children. | Nevin's sister, Emma, is in a stable condition in the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast, after she joined the rescue but was overcome by the tank's toxic fumes. Graham, 30, was married with two children. |
| On Sunday at Ravenhill, the home of Ulster Rugby, David Humphreys, the former provincial star, European Cup winner and Irish international, fought back tears as he paid tribute. | On Sunday at Ravenhill, the home of Ulster Rugby, David Humphreys, the former provincial star, European Cup winner and Irish international, fought back tears as he paid tribute. |
| In an emotional press conference in the east Belfast stadium, Humphreys said: "He was born in Ulster, came through school in Ulster and all he wanted to do was stay, play rugby and win trophies with Ulster."I took a personal interest in Nevin when he entered into the academy as it coincided with my retirement. Gary Longwell stood alongside me and pointed to Nevin as one of the players who would definitely make it to play professionally." | In an emotional press conference in the east Belfast stadium, Humphreys said: "He was born in Ulster, came through school in Ulster and all he wanted to do was stay, play rugby and win trophies with Ulster."I took a personal interest in Nevin when he entered into the academy as it coincided with my retirement. Gary Longwell stood alongside me and pointed to Nevin as one of the players who would definitely make it to play professionally." |
| Spence had established himself as a regular in the Ulster squad in recent seasons, playing in the centre for the provincial team 42 times. | Spence had established himself as a regular in the Ulster squad in recent seasons, playing in the centre for the provincial team 42 times. |
| He also came on as a replacement for Ireland against the Barbarians at Kingsholm in May, as well as playing for the Irish Wolfhounds, the country's second-string team, on three occasions. He made his debut for Ulster against Ospreys in April 2010. | He also came on as a replacement for Ireland against the Barbarians at Kingsholm in May, as well as playing for the Irish Wolfhounds, the country's second-string team, on three occasions. He made his debut for Ulster against Ospreys in April 2010. |
| Spence was named young player of the year at the Irish Rugby Union Players' Association Awards last year. | Spence was named young player of the year at the Irish Rugby Union Players' Association Awards last year. |
| Earlier, prayers were said for the Spence family at the Ballynahinch Baptist church, where they worshipped. The Rev Rodney Stout said the three men were all "incredibly gentle, decent, hardworking, with a deep sense of family loyalty". | Earlier, prayers were said for the Spence family at the Ballynahinch Baptist church, where they worshipped. The Rev Rodney Stout said the three men were all "incredibly gentle, decent, hardworking, with a deep sense of family loyalty". |
| He said he visited the Spence home on Saturday night and the family were just beginning to come to terms with what had happened. The minister added that the tragedy would have a huge effect on a very tight-knit community. | He said he visited the Spence home on Saturday night and the family were just beginning to come to terms with what had happened. The minister added that the tragedy would have a huge effect on a very tight-knit community. |
| The Northern Ireland ambulance service sent out rapid response teams to the Spence farm shortly after 6pm on Saturday. Paramedics tried to resuscitate the three men, but two died at the scene. The third initially responded to resuscitation and was taken to the nearby Lagan Valley hospital, Lisburn, where he died a short time later. The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland is investigating the circumstances to establish a clear picture of how the tragedy unfolded. | The Northern Ireland ambulance service sent out rapid response teams to the Spence farm shortly after 6pm on Saturday. Paramedics tried to resuscitate the three men, but two died at the scene. The third initially responded to resuscitation and was taken to the nearby Lagan Valley hospital, Lisburn, where he died a short time later. The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland is investigating the circumstances to establish a clear picture of how the tragedy unfolded. |
| It said: "From HSENI's initial investigations, it understands that the three family members who entered an underground slurry tank died from the effects of exposure to slurry gases. | It said: "From HSENI's initial investigations, it understands that the three family members who entered an underground slurry tank died from the effects of exposure to slurry gases. |
| "The exact sequence of events is not yet clear but HSENI is investigating a definite line of enquiry." | "The exact sequence of events is not yet clear but HSENI is investigating a definite line of enquiry." |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday. |