NI man on how losing arm aged 12 in slurry accident ended his dream of taking over farm: ‘I never want the same thing to happen to anyone else'

Belfast Telegraph

21-07-2025

William Sayers is one of two farmers who shared their stories to mark Farm Safety Week, which starts today.
Farming is one of the most dangerous jobs in Northern Ireland, accounting for 20% of workplace fatalities.
As a child, Mr Sayers dreamed of taking over his family's farm in Donemana, but lost it in the 'blink of an eye'.
His father, George, also lost a leg due to a separate farming accident aged just two.
'It was life-changing, and I had to accept that this was my new reality,' Mr Sayers said, recalling his own incident.
'It was realising I could not do the things I used to and having to think about a different career as I always dreamed of taking over the farm.'
The accident that took Mr Sayers' arm happened when slurry was being spread on the family's farm. When checking how the tank was filling, his unzipped coat became caught in the machinery.
'It was difficult to accept, not only for me, but for my parents as well,' he said.
'They had to help me a lot as a child. Their hopes were not going to work out. My own and my family's expectation was that I would be the fifth generation to take over the land.'
This is the 13th annual Farm Safety Week. Mr Sayers added: 'People are definitely much more aware now, which is good, but there's definitely room for improvement.
'People are much more conscious, and the idea of farm safety is promoted more. It's a team effort.
'The media take an interest, and the farmers' union makes it clear: if there are no farmers, there is no food, there is no future.
'Farm Safety Week is important to me; I lost an arm through a mistake I made. I never want the same thing to happen to anyone else. I feel a responsibility to help save people from that.
'People can keep both arms and have the farming future they've always wanted if they're safety conscious.
'My father was always very good at giving advice.
'If I could give my 12-year-old self any advice, it would be to listen to him more. I could not get over the fact that we had both been through such similar things. It must have been really daunting for him.
'We went to the same hospital, I'd go upstairs for the arm to be seen to, and he would go downstairs for the leg.
'My father was very strong throughout it; not every parent would have been able to cope. It was hard for both of us to come to terms with.
'I blamed myself for not listening to him more, and I paid a heavy price for it. If my story can prevent someone from losing their life or being seriously injured, then it is worth telling.'
Another farmer, Colm Quinn (40), from Castlewellan, also spoke out.
He narrowly avoided losing his eyesight after being struck by a plank of wood three years ago.
'Farming has always been a part of our family.
'I grew up on a farm, and now my son, Eoin, is growing up on a farm,' he said.
'I was building an extension onto our shed, and when screwing in a piece of wood, the screw somehow came loose and hit me in the corner of the eye.
'It was challenging to get down because I was alone, and I was in a lot of pain.
'The doctor at Downpatrick hospital consulted with a doctor at the Royal Victoria, and it was decided I needed three stitches. If it had been a millimetre the other way, I would have lost my eye.'
'I am 40 now, I have seen some hard times and I like to think I am a tough person. I was trying to get down, and the blood was running out of my eye. After the accident, I am definitely more wary of working alone and making sure I wear my safety goggles.'
Colm's eight-year-old son, Eoin, was very emotional when the accident happened.
'I wish he was wearing his glasses. I always tell him he has to wear the glasses, even if he is only cutting wood for two seconds,' Eoin said.
Colm added: 'It is important for children to be on the farm, while being very mindful of the surroundings and keeping them safe. There's no better way for them to learn the family business.'
In the 12 months to April, five agricultural workers were killed, according to the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland.