The man, aged 28, died while working on wind blown timber in the Meenadreen area of Co Donegal. It is believed the incident occurred some time before half three in the afternoon on Monday 21 December. A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) said that while the man was felling a tree in the forest another tree fell on top of him from behind.

The spokesperson added that the incident is currently under investigation by HSA officers and it is not clear as yet whether it will be classified as an agricultural or construction sector death. A post-mortem on the man is due to take place later today (Tuesday) in Letterkenny General Hospital.

The death of a young boy, Mark Fordham, on a farm in Co Galway over the weekend brought to 17 the number of deaths in the agricultural sector so far this year.