A Carlow community is trying to come to terms with the tragic death of a 16-year-old boy in a farm accident near Ballon yesterday morning.
16-year-old Donal English Hayden and his brother were injured when a tractor & trailer overturned into a dyke in a beet field near Ballon at around 10.30 yesterday morning.
The boys were rushed to St Luke’s hospital in Kilkenny where Donal later died.
Its understood his older brother escaped with minor injuries and has since been released from hospital.
Local Parish priest Fr Brendan Howard says people are finding it very difficult to get their heads around the tragedy.
Donal was a talented sportsman who competed for Ballon Rathoe Athletics Club at pole-vaulting, he played GAA with his local club Burrin Rangers and Carlow under 16’s and had also lined out for Tullow Rugby club.
The local sporting organisations have been paying tribute to the teenager on social media overnight saying he will be sadly missed by all of his team-mates and friends.
