A farming accident near Rosetown, Sask., has claimed the life of a 15-year-old youth.
Chase Cordes died April 14 at his uncle’s farm while helping his father, Ron, feed cattle. He was struck by the tractor.
“It wasn’t (an unusual work situation). They’d done it a thousand times; nothing out of the norm really,” said RCMP const. Tony Curti of the Rosetown RCMP detachment.
“A calf had been taken away from its mother. He (Cordes) was running away from the mother who was chasing him and he ran towards the tractor,” Curti said.
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“His intention maybe was just probably to jump on the tractor and get away, but he (may have) lost his footing and slipped. He was using the tractor as a safe haven.”
Curti called the accident a fluke.
“It’s not like there was any complacency there. There was probably a combination of every little thing all coming into place at one time.”
Heavy rain earlier in the week may have contributed to slick conditions on the farm.
Curti said he knew Cordes through seeing him at the hockey rink and high school.
“Farming and hockey: those were his passions more than anything, really.”
Curti said the death has hit everyone in the community hard, including police.
“He was well liked. His dad actually coached his hockey team. I think it’s going to be on everyone’s minds for quite some time.”
More than 1,000 people attended the funeral service April 17 where Cordes’ father gave a tribute to his son.
“The father was quite strong if you ask me. He did the eulogy, which is amazing,” said Curti.
