A young farmer who was hospitalised after being overcome by fumes from agitated slurry two years ago is urging farmers to be more vigilant.
Ella Casey, 18, from Ballymahon, Co Longford, is hoping to raise awareness around the dangers of working on a farm, ahead of the IFA's Farm Safety Awareness Week, which begins tomorrow.
The teenager had been working on a neighbour's farm when the incident happened in August 2021.
"The 30 minutes that you're not supposed to go into the shed after agitating had passed and I went back in to close some gates," Ella said.
"As I was coming back in through the robot room, I had to duck under to get in over a drain, but some of the gas had come up and the gas was also trapped in the room as well," she said.
The teenager knew immediately she was in trouble and sought help from a friend who was working upstairs in the shed.
"I had a splitting headache and my eyes started streaming so I pulled out my phone and rang Keith because I knew he was upstairs," she said.
"I didn't answer the phone because I passed out before he answered."
Quick-thinking Keith O'Halloran knew something was wrong and went looking for Ella.
"Ella rang me, but didn't say anything when I answered. So, I went looking for her and I found her on the floor in the robot room," he said.
"I picked her up straight away and ran outside with her and called my dad and he called an ambulance.
"We got her awake and made sure she was breathing, and the ambulance arrived and then the helicopter landed and she airlifted to hospital."
Thankfully, Ella was given all clear from doctors in Galway who said she was very lucky.
Her father Luke, a suckler and sheep farmer who is heavily involved with the IFA in Co Longford, said the family was shocked by the incident.
"Something like this is a big shock, especially to somebody like me. My father built his first slatted shed back in 1977 and we never had an issue," said Mr Casey
"Many people around the country will be in the same boat and not realise this could happen at their door.
"When Ella opened the gates and went to the robot, she took one step under the ceiling, she took one breath and went down," he added.
"We've very lucky that when Keith was pulling her out, he didn't take a breath as well because we could have lost the two of them, that's very important to keep in mind.
"If you have any facilities near your tank at all, you must presume there's gas in them because no matter what way the wind is blowing, it can curl in the shed," he added.
The IFA's Farm Safety Week will focus on a number of areas, but in particular increased vehicle safety.
Recent figures from the Health and Safety Authority show that tractors account for 52% of vehicle-related deaths, with the elderly and children at increased risk.
New quad bike regulations will also come into force in November and farmers are being urged to complete the training course provided.
"Look at your farm. See are there any ways you can make a little change that could prevent an accident down the road and make sure that people living on the farm, people working on the farm and visitors to the farm are kept safe," said Alice Doyle, the IFA's National Farm Family and Social Affairs Chair.
Ella is hoping that her story will make others think twice.
"We were technically within all the guidelines, not going in until after 30 minutes had passed so just keep that in mind," she said.
"Make sure you have someone nearby in case you get into trouble, and you have a way of contacting them, no dead phones, no phones on silent because that could have made my story a lot different," she said.
Farm Safety Weeks gets under way tomorrow.
