Devon dairy businessman dies after tragic accident

The incident happened on the first day a new milking parlour began operating on an established Devon farm

A well-respected businessman within the farming community in Devon and Cornwall died in hospital after falling down an 'unprotected stairwell' at a farm while overseeing the first day of a new milking parlour. Timothy Horwood, who founded Venture Dairy Services in Holsworthy and ran the family business for more than 35 years, suffered a knee injury associated with high-risk limb loss.

An inquest at Exeter Coroner's Court heard he opted for surgery instead of amputation and tragically died at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton on May 30, 2021 - more than three weeks after his accident at Churchcombe Farm near Barnstaple. The jury inquest, which was held over four days this week, ended today, September 19, with a conclusion of accidental death.

Venture Dairy Services was established to provide equipment and consumables for the dairy industry and had been instructed to help at Churchcombe Farm. Its owner, Brian Tythcott, told the inquest he and his family had run the dairy farm since 1958.

He said Mr Horwood, who acted as a dealership for GEA Farm Technologies, had been trying to get a deal with him for at least 10 years to create a new milking parlour at the farm stating he wanted to put in 'the first of its kind in this country' and to help increase farm sales.

Works began in early 2020 and according to the director of T&M Buildings in Torrington, Tim Moast, he said at no time were they asked to fit protective railings on the stairwell which led to the centre of the rotary milking parlour. However, he confirmed that since Mr Horwood's accident, he had fitted permanent protection around the stairwell and a gate to access it.

The first new milking parlour session took place at Churchcombe Farm on May 4, 2021, at 5pm and finished around 10.30pm. Farm owner Mr Tythcott said that any boarding over the stairwell had been removed at an earlier time to allow access to the parlour.

He added that Mr Horwood said that they were starting on that day 'no matter what' as Venture Dairy Services had other projects to move on to. Mr Tythcott confirmed the work was not finished.

A GEA employee who was onsite after the first milking session had finished recalled seeing Mr Horwood walking around the parlour to do visual checks and gave a thumbs up at around 11.45pm. The employee then recalled hearing a noise which he went to investigate and found Mr Horwood conscious at the bottom of the stairwell.

The inquest heard there had not been any previous slipping issues. A paramedic who helped treat Mr Horwood said he told her he had lost his footing and 'slipped back off the edge'.

He was removed from the stairwell by paramedics using a scoop stretcher and taken to North Devon District Hospital where he was diagnosed with a damaged artery behind his dislocated knee, disrupting the blood supply to his lower leg.

He was given the option of surgery to restore the blood supply or have an above knee amputation, and requested everything possible be done to save his leg. He was blue-lighted by ambulance to Musgrove Park Hospital for emergency arterial surgery.

During the operation, medical evidence stated he became increasingly unstable and was admitted to ICU afterwards where he remained until May 25 when he was discharged to a ward. Although his condition was said to have been improving, he had no sensation or function in his injured leg.

He was said to have remained adamant he wanted to continue with therapy rather than have his leg amputated. Tragically, on May 30, he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and was unable to be revived.

The medical cause of death confirmed at the end of the inquest was cardiac arrest, ischemia and necrosis of the left lower leg, along with dislocation of the left knee with traumatic disruption of the left popliteal artery (operated).

The consultant histopathologist who carried out the post-mortem, said his death was due to a combination of the trauma, ischemia (restriction of blood supply) and necrosis (the death of body tissue) which caused an 'overbearing physiological strain' that led to the cardiac arrest.

Mr Horwood's GP told how he suffered from previous injuries to both knees, including in 2012 when he damaged his left knee after falling off a quad bike.

Mr Horwood's wife Norma told in a statement how they had known each other for 21 years and had been married for 12 years and had grown-up children and a grandson. She described Mr Horwood as having been a 'wonderful, kind man who loved his family'.

She recalled he grew up in a village outside of Holsworthy and remained part of the community. She said he had worked hard all of his life and was looking forward to stepping back from the successful business he created in the coming years.

Paying tribute to him she said he was 'greatly missed by his friends and family'.

Senior coroner Philip Spinney confirmed he would not be issuing a prevention of future deaths report following the conclusion of the inquest.