The death of a Scots beef farmer who suffered major chest injuries during a quad bike crash ‘could not have been prevented’, a sheriff has ruled.
Arnold Mathers passed away at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary with his loving family by his side after he failed to recover from the tragic accident.
The 53-year-old was herding cattle at his Orkney farm on July 7, 2020, when his two colleagues saw him steer the vehicle “sharply to the left”.
The dad-of-three was able to leap clear of the overturning ATV but lost his footing and fell onto his back.
Despite being in pain and appearing to be winded, the dedicated farmer insisted they carry on working before eventually agreeing that an ambulance should be called.
He was taken to Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall before being airlifted to the ARI where he was found to have suffered “extensive thoracic injuries”.
Mr Mathers had multiple rib fractures, air in his chest cavity and an injury to his spleen which later required emergency surgery.
Due to pre-existing health conditions with his lungs - Farmer’s Lung and Sarcoidosis - his condition continued to deteriorate and he was placed on a ventilator.
On August 17, Mr Mathers told doctors he no longer wanted to continue with treatment before passing away peacefully on August 22.
A Fatal Accident Inquiry, heard by Sheriff Mungo Bovey QC, has found that no precautions could have been taken to prevent the death.
He said: “Mr Mathers’ quad bike overturned, causing him to fall to the ground and sustain injury as a consequence.
“Although proceeding at a moderate speed, Mr Mathers was seen to turn his bike sharply causing it to overturn.
“Mr Mathers was an experienced user of the kind of quad bike in question.
“It is not possible to determine whether the quad bike overturned because of a momentary lapse or unidentified circumstances albeit inspection of the locus identified nothing which might have caused the accident.
“In the absence of a finding as to the cause of the accident, I do not find precautions which might have prevented it.
“Mr Mathers had over 10 years of experience in riding quad bikes. He had not attended any formal training. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the incident.
“Mrs Mathers described her husband as being always on the go and putting 110% into everything that he did.
“Mr Mathers daily checked the cattle, fields and fences.
“It was ordinary for him to move cattle and he had completed this task on many occasions. “Mr Mathers did not complain about his medical condition and he simply 'ploughed on' - life was a challenge that Mr Mathers thrived on.”
Following his death, the farmer’s sister, Avril Hay, raised over £8800 for Asthma + Lung UK charity in his memory.
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