Fruit grower and packer Blackmoor Estate in Hampshire has been hit by a double tragedy when two members of staff died at work earlier this week.

The incident is the subject of an investigation by Hampshire police. Officers were called to the estate at 3.15pm on Monday after the bodies of two workers were discovered in an apple storage unit. Colleagues had raised the alarm after the two men did not return from their duties. The men, Scott Cain, 23, and Ashley Clarke, 24, were pronounced dead at the scene.

As FPJ went to press, post-mortem examinations were taking place on Tuesday and an investigation by Hampshire Constabulary is ongoing to establish the exact circumstances leading to the tragedy.

Detective chief inspector Dick Pearson said: “These deaths are being treated as unexplained and the full circumstances of this tragic work-related incident are being investigated by the police with the assistance of the Health & Safety Executive.”

William Wolmer, managing director of Blackmoor Estate Ltd, described the incident as “devastating”, adding: “Two members of staff at Blackmoor packhouse were found unconscious in an apple store on the afternoon of Monday 18 February. Despite the efforts of staff and the emergency services they were subsequently found to have died.

“This is devastating news for our tight-knit community and our thoughts are with their loved ones.

“The cause of this tragic incident is being investigated and Blackmoor Estate is co-operating fully with the authorities. In light of that investigation, it is not appropriate to comment further.”

Farming is one of the more dangerous professions for workers in the country, according to Health & Safety Executive figures. There were 33 fatal injuries to workers in agriculture in the year 2011-12, compared to the average of 35 across the previous five years. The rate of fatal injury was 9.7 in 2011-12, compared to the five-year average of 11.3.

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