Farmer, 71, who appeared on BBC documentary This Farming Life is killed by one of his own cows

The death of a farmer who appeared on BBC documentary This Farming life will be  probed by a sheriff after he was killed by one of his own cows.

Derek Roan, 71, died in hospital after a horror incident at his family farm in southern Scotland last year.

Emergency crews were called to the scene at Barnbarroch Farm, near Dalbeattie, Dumfries and Galloway, on June 18 and took the grandfather-of-six to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, but he died from his injuries. 

A Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) will now examine the circumstances around Mr Roan’s death.

His loved ones confirmed his death and spoke of their shock in a statement issued via the family firm Roan’s Dairy, saying he was a ‘beloved husband’ to wife Kathleen and a ‘devoted father’ to their three children.

They said: ‘We are totally devastated and still in shock at what has happened and it will take some time for us to come to terms of not having him around.

‘All Derek’s hard work was for his two passions in life – his family and his farms.

‘Derek was well known within the farming community and many other circles. He will be sadly missed by all.’

Mr Roan, who appeared in the BBC documentary about farming, was chairman of Colvend and Southwick Community Council.

Vice-chairman Simon Pain said at the time his friend had died from a ‘stock-related injury’ and said the farmer was ‘well liked and well respected in our community’, describing him as a ‘leading light’.

Mr Roan, who had featured in the documentary series about farming, died after being injured by one of his own cows at the farm in near Dalbeattie, Dumfries and Galloway on June 18. Pictured: Cows at Roan’s Dairy farm in Scotland

NFU (National Farmers’ Union) Scotland president Martin Kennedy said the union had lost a ‘real stalwart’.

Regional chairman Colin Ferguson said his loss had ‘sent shock waves through the region and beyond’.

The Roan family has been milking pedigree Holstein cows at Barnbarroch for six generations.

They run two dairy farms in the Stewartry at Barnbarroch and Boreland of Colvend and also operate a milk delivery service across Dumfries and Galloway.

The Health and Safety Executive launched an investigation following the tragedy.

Police Scotland said they were not treating the death as suspicious, and a report was submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

This week, Les Brown, Procurator Fiscal for the Dumfries and Galloway district, issued notice of an FAI, with a first hearing to be held at Dumfries Sheriff Court in March.