Elderly farmer crushed to death by hay bale

An elderly Manawatu farmer was crushed to death by a large hay bale yesterday.

The 74-year-old man was found by a family member on his Waituna Road farm, about 40km east of Palmerston North, about 11am.

It appeared he had been trying to move some baleage when one of them toppled down and crushed him, police spokeswoman Kim Perks told the Manawatu Standard.

Family members grew concerned after he failed to return home after going out to work

The coroner had been advised of the death and the Department of Labour would also be notified, she said.

- NZPA