The farm on which Aaron McAuley died after falling from farm machinery outside Castlewellan

THE young boy who tragically died in a farming accident has been named on Tuesday evening.

Local people in Co Down confirmed his identity as Aaron McAuley.

A joint health and safety and police investigation is underway after the ten-year-old died in the tragic farming.

The incident happened at a farm on the Rathfriland Road in Castlewellan around 2.30 pm on Tuesday afternoon.

It is understood the farm machinery was working on steep ground at the time.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a 999 call saying a young boy had fallen from some farm machinery on the land.

However, because of the remoteness of the farm, paramedics called in the PSNI’s helicopter for assistance to try and reach him.

The Eurocopter landed in a nearby field close to where the boy had fallen.

The schoolboy was placed on a stretcher and airlifted by the PSNI helicopter along with two paramedics who tended to his injuries until they reached Craigavon Area Hospital.

However, he was tragically pronounced dead after failing to regain consciousness from his fall.

A PSNI spokesperson later confirmed that the boy died as a result of the accident.

Following the accident, the PSNI informed the NI Health and Safety Executive who are  currently investigating the circumstances of the death.

A spokesperson said: “HSENI is investigating the death of a 10-year-old boy on a Co Down farm.

“Our deepest sympathies are with the family at this most difficult time.”

South Down NI21 MLA John McCallister said: “My thoughts and prayers are with the family. This really is a tragic event.”

SDLP MP for south Down Margaret Ritchie also sent her sympathies to the family over their tragic loss.

“The farming people of south Down will support the family today and tomorrow. People will rally round to help them,” said Ms Ritchie.

It is the third death on a farm within the space of a week.

Harry Starrett tragically died from an underlying heart condition last week on his granda’s farm

Last Tuesday, little Harry Starrett died on his grandfather’s farm in Co Armagh.

The six-year-old was found unconscious by his grandfather in a milking parlour last Tuesday afternoon.

At first it was believe he died after being overcome by slurry fumes in a shed.

However, a post mortem revealed the primary school boy died from an underlying heart condition.

And last Thursday, a 70-year-old man fell from a while working on slurry in Moneymore, Co Derry.

The deaths come amid a hard-hitting advertising campaign from HSENI warning of the dangers while working on farms.

Ulster Farmers Union Barclay Bell said  the death was a “terrible tragedy” to the family.

He said: “Farms are a lovely place to grow up on but they are also very dangerous.”