Quad bike death: Patoka farming accident victim named as Malcolm Macdonald

Emergency services were called to Waihau Rd in Patoka where Malcolm Macdonald died in a workplace accident.

An 81-year-old farmer is thought to have died when his quad bike rolled while out fencing, WorkSafe says.

Malcolm Douglas Macdonald of Camberley was remembered at the Stortford Lodge stock sales on Wednesday, which began with a moment’s silence for the senior livestock agent.

Macdonald, a familiar face at the Hastings saleyards, died in Patoka on Tuesday afternoon.

Emergency services including a helicopter were called to a Waihau Rd farm to reports of a person injured, but despite the best efforts of responders at the farm, he died at the scene.

A police spokeswoman said Macdonald’s death had been referred to WorkSafe and the coroner.

WorkSafe area manager Danielle Henry said investigators had been to the scene to gather information.

“Initial indications are that Mr Macdonald was out doing some fencing work when his quad bike may have rolled.”

Henry said farming was a way of life for many people in New Zealand, and “health and safety must be part of this way of life”.

“Farm vehicle incidents are one of the top two causes of workplace deaths in Aotearoa, which is why agriculture is a priority sector under WorkSafe’s new strategy,” Henry said.