A PSNI helicopter circles over the scene of the farm tragedy accident in Castlewellan, Co Down

THE remains of a young boy who tragically died in a farming accident are expected to be released later today to his devastated family.

Aaron Macauley died on Tuesday following the accident on his family’s farm on the Rathfriland Road in Castlewellan, Co Down.

The ten-year-old is understood to have been fatally injured by a manure shovel attached to a tractor driven by his older teenage brother.

The accident happened while they were working on steep ground on the farm close to the area known locally as Moneyslane.

Aaron’s brother was also hurt in the accident and is still in Craigavon Area Hospital receiving treatment.

A post mortem is expected to be carried out to determine the exact cause of Aaron’s death before his remains are released to the family’s funeral director.

His funeral will take place at Drumgooland Presbyterian Church in Ballyward where his mum and dad, Wendy and Maurice, were devoted worshippers along with their two daughters and older brother.

Aaron was a pupil at Drumadonnell Primary School.

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

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.

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

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.

The DUP’s south Down MLA Jim Wells said the Macauley family were well known and “well respected” in the area.

“The tragic death of Aaron will shock the entire community who will gather round and the support the grieving family,” said the new Health Minister in waiting.

“Aaron was the youngest of four children and his loss will leave a huge void in the Macauley family.’

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.

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, 70-year-old Henry Allen 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 of young Aaron was a “terrible tragedy” to the family.

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