Gardaí are investigating the death of an eight-year-old girl on her family's farm in Co. Mayo on Tuesday evening. The child is understood to have died in an accident involving a tractor on farmland near Islandeady at approximately 5pm. She was rushed to Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar but lost her fight for life and was pronounced dead on arrival. Gardaí in Westport are investigating the incident and the Health and Safety Authority have been informed. A spokesman for the HSA told the Irish Independent that they had been informed by gardaí and plan to inspect the site of the tragic accident:

"We have been notified about that. We will be sending inspectors tomorrow. "This is obviously a very sensitive issue and it will be treated accordingly."

According to the HSA, on average between 2006 and 2015, two or three children were killed in farm accidents every year. The main causes of child fatal accidents are tractors/ machinery and drowning. The tragedy is the second to hit the rural area this week after local farmer Christy Gallagher (51) died after falling from Mweelrea mountain on Sunday.