Toddler trying to help his dad when tragically killed on farm
A grieving family has spoken about the tragic moment a two-year-old boy was crushed in a dairy farm accident in Western Victoria.
Darcy Membrey was helping his father in a shed when he was killed by falling machinery on Wednesday in Naringal, near Warrnambool.
His uncle has recalled life on a family dairy farm was one big adventure for the toddler.
“He loved the farm. He loved being with his dad, being around his dad as he worked. You know, fixing things, pulling things apart, he just loved tinkering,” Matt Cluka said.
Living with his grandparents as well as his father Travis, mother Sasha and his older sisters, Darcy was set to be the fifth generation to work at the property.
“He was a bubbly, happy, cheeky rascal. He was a wonderful kid. We’d just spent Christmas together and he was amazing,” Mr Cluka said.
Replaying Darcy’s final moments, Mr Cluka said it happened in just a split second.
“He was just with his dad, just in a shed where a piece of machinery toppled over,” he said.
A fertiliser spreader crushed Darcy, the full bin falling without warning.
“The whole family’s devastated. Travis and Sash are naturally devastated at losing Darcy but it’s a tragic accident and just a tragedy that no one could really explain,” Mr Cluka added.
Police and Worksafe Victoria are investigating why the fertiliser bin toppled over but the Membrey family wants to correct inaccurate reports of what caused the tragedy.
“There’s been some other reports that have mentioned a tractor. The machinery wasn’t even attached to a tractor. It was just sitting in a machinery shed,” Mr Cluka said.
Around seven family members and farm staff tried to save Darcy as they waited for help.
“The family want to be very thankful to the emergency services. The police and the ambulance officer who tried really hard and did an amazing job,” Darcy’s uncle said.
