Strawberry pickers and staff at a Herefordshire farm were in shock this week after the bodies of two Polish workers were found within hours of each other at a campsite early on Saturday morning.
The first body was discovered at about 4am when the girlfriend of a young Polish worker at the S&A Produce campsite at Brook Farm, Marden, returned to a caravan.
The second tragic find was reported at about 9.30am, when the body of an older Polish man was discovered some distance away in open ground. With police already investigating the first death, the site was evacuated.
“There were no suspicious circumstances and both cases are being treated by the police as suicides. The two cases are not related in any way, and the individuals were not known to each other,” said company community relations manager Rebecca Edmonds.
“Many people on site had the day off to go on trips organised by the company, with only about 150 left in the packing department. The two individuals concerned, both Polish males, had been working for us as strawberry pickers and came over from Poland in the early part of the summer season. The relatives of both have been informed.
“This is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts are with the families. The incident has deeply affected all of us, and especially fellow employees, a number of whom were close friends. Over and above the help and support provided by our welfare officers to seasonal workers we have also brought in professional counsellors from the Polish community to help in this particularly difficult time.
“Neither had raised welfare concerns with our staff. It has come as a great shock since the welfare of seasonal workers is of the utmost importance,” she said.
Father Frank Slater from Leominster’s St Ethelbert’s RC Church was at the site yesterday to offer support.
Police said they were treating both deaths as unexplained and were keeping an open mind. “Both appear to be unique tragedies in their own circumstances. Post mortems have been carried out and police are not looking for anyone else,” said a statement.
The coroner had been informed and an inquest was due to be opened. Next-of-kin were informed through the Polish Embassy.