Desperate mum-of-three begged for help after her ‘cheeky’ son, 9, was hit by truck on family farm in tragic accident

A DESPERATE dad battled to save his nine-year-old son after he was hit by a truck and killed on the family farm, an inquest heard.

Tomos Bunford had leapt from the vehicle with his two siblings and parents after it started sliding down a hill towards a cliff.

Tragically the water bowser being towed by the pick-up truck hurtled towards the talented rugby player and smashed into him.

Dad Rhys frantically performed CPR on Tomos at the farm in the Rhondda Valleys, South Wales, as mum Louise ran for help in the nearest village.

An inquest heard how the youngster died from blunt force injury to the chest following the tragedy in September last year.

The hearing was told the family were on their way to take water to their cows when the freak accident unfolded.

Tomos' parents feared the truck towing the water bowser trailer would fall over the cliff at the end of the farmland.

Louise said: "We could hear the panic in the children's voices. They were asking us what they should do."

The mum pushed Tomos clear of the door and threw her baby to her big brother.

But as Rhys turned around he saw the bowser hit Tomos.

He said: "We were doing a task we had done as part of our routine for years.

"It was nothing out of the ordinary. The field conditions weren't different, the level of water in the bowser was the same, and the vehicles did not fail post-accident safety checks.

"But please, we want the farming community to learn from us losing Tomos, and stop and think. You can't be over cautious. Ask yourself what the risks are from doing any job."

Paying tribute to her son, Louise said Tomos loved animals and wanted to be a vet.

The youngster, who played for Pontypridd RFC U10s, is now buried under his favourite tree on the farm.

She said: "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for [my other children].

"I've thought many a time that I can't carry on, but who would look after them?"

The inquest was adjourned for a full hearing in March next year.