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A five-year-old boy has died after being hit by a tractor driven by his dad.

Little Liam Lyons died yesterday after being struck by a rotary mower on the machine being driven by his father near the village of Ferbane, Co Offaly.

He had jumped off the tractor minutes earlier to chase off a number of pheasants in the machine’s path.

The child was airlifted to hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

One neighbour said Liam was on his uncle Pat Egan’s farm in Coole with his father Eoin when the tragedy happened at around 3pm.

After moving the birds away, Liam lay down in the field and was invisible to his father as he came round the next lap on the tractor.

Emergency services raced to the scene and the child was airlifted to Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore where efforts to save him failed.

A police investigation has now been launched into the tragic accident.

The HSA has also initiated its own inquiry, as is standard practice surrounding any fatality at a place of work.

The Lyons family live in nearby Rath and little Liam had recently posed for a newspaper article with his brother and sister.

The trio were snapped alongside triplet calves that were born to a Holstein cow, sired by an Angus bull.

The miracle calves were born on Liam’s dad Eoin’s farm in Rath, Birr, Co Offaly on March 10.

The little boy’s parents were last night being comforted at their home by friends and family.

Local councillor John Clendennon, FG, told the Irish Mirror: “This is a tragic shock for all the community.

“The family are well loved and respected. Our thoughts and condolences are with them at this difficult time.”

Parish priest John Moorhead said the family were inconsolable.

“He was a grand young fellow and he was due to start junior infants in September,” he said.

“My deepest sympathy and prayers go out to his family at this extremely difficult time.”