The press office with An Garda Síochána confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal on Saturday that a “tragic accident” had occurred on farm in the Kilcolgan area of Co Galway on Saturday morning.

The seven-year old child, who has been named locally as Mark Fordham, was removed from the scene but was pronounced dead in hospital “later in the afternoon” the garda spokesperson said. Mark was taken from the scene to the Galway University hospital.

Both An Garda Síochána and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) are conducting an investigation into the accident. An Garda Síochána would not release any further information regarding the accident at this time.

It is understood that Mark fell into an item of machinery which sorts potatoes.

This death brings to 17 the number of deaths on Irish farms in 2015. While the figure is lower than the 30 who died last year, it is up on the number in 2013. In 2013 a total of 16 people died on Irish farms, a quarter of those deaths were children.