Man killed in tractor accident an 'all-round good guy'

A Winton man who died in a tractor accident while helping with haymaking on his son's Teviot farm was "an all-round good guy", his colleagues said yesterday.

Police released his name yesterday. He was Stewart Bath (59), a rural real estate agent.

Mr Bath had been driving a tractor, raking hay, on Thursday afternoon.

The tractor rolled several times down a steep slope on the farm, between Millers Flat and Lake Onslow. Mr Bath was thrown out of the tractor as it rolled, and died at the scene, Detective Sergeant Derek Shaw, of Alexandra, said.

The site was examined yesterday by police and staff from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Both agencies would conduct their own independent investigations and forward the results to the coroner, Det Sgt Shaw said.

Mr Bath was one of the partners of real estate firm Locations in Invercargill. Mike McCurdy, another partner, said he had shared an office with Mr Bath for about a decade.

"Stew was an all-round good guy. You wouldn't get a better colleague, partner or friend," Mr McCurdy said.

Mr Bath was a quiet man with a dry sense of humour, who was devoted to his wife and family.

He was well-regarded in the real estate industry and focused on rural properties as he was from a farming background.

"He was well-respected by his clients and others in the industry, and many have been in touch with us today to express their sympathy," Mr McCurdy said.

Outside of work, Mr Bath's main interest was his family.

 

 

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