Original member of huge rock band killed in horror farming accident
He was a talented and much-loved musician before he faced an extraordinary death that shocked locals, when he was crushed by a rolling hay bail in the countryside of Devon
08:00, 25 Nov 2025Updated 08:17, 25 Nov 2025
View 2 ImagesMike was a member of Electric Light Orchestra (ELO)One of the early members of huge 1970s rock band ELO lost his life in a freak farming accident.
Mike Edwards, a cellist in the massive band, was killed instantly when he was hit by a rolling bale of hay as his drove his van along a country road in Devon.
The 62-yea-old was driving along the A381 in Halwell, Devon[1], in September 2010 when the 600kg bale of hay came rolling down a steep field in Devonshire and smashed through a hedge. It then continued its journey down a road downhill, gathering momentum, before it landed on top of a white van belonging to Edwards.
Police investigations led officers to believe that the 'brilliant' musician died almost instantly from the sheer force after Mike was forced to swerve after the bale of hay hit and he swerved into another vehicle[2]. As he was struck, his car swerved and hit a second driver at around 12:30pm, although they came out of the incident relatively unscathed.
View 2 ImagesMike Edwards (1948 - 2010)People were able to identify the victim of this fatal and unusual occurrence using photos and YouTube[3] footage of his time spent as a musician.
In his later years, Edwards lived in Totnes and was a founding member of the classical Devon Baroque orchestra, as well as having his place in the Electric Light Orchestra.
Only the next day, on Saturday evening, Edwards was due to play with the medieval folk band Daughters of Elvin in Totnes. Reports suggest the police initially had trouble locating Edwards' relatives, although they were able to track down his brother David, who was living in Yorkshire.
The inquest later revealed the 62-year-old suffered a fractured skull and spine. Following on from the inquest, his brother said: "Michael's death was totally unnecessary and totally preventable if a proper assessment of the risks of baling on a steeply sloping field next to a public road had been carried out," The Guardian reports[4].
David and the rest of the family called on the Health and Safety Executive to highlight the dangers that come along with bailing hay on sloping ground, close by to roads.
He added: "My brother's death has touched so many people's lives..
Article continues below"Not just my own family but the very many friends he had here in Devon, his music pupils, the many ensembles and orchestras he played with and loyal fans of ELO. He will be sadly missed by us all."
Loved ones and fellow musicians shared their thoughts and condolences with the BBC[5] at the time of his sudden death. Angus Gordon, the chairman of Devon Baroque, said: "He was simply the nicest guy and a brilliant musician.
He was capable of turning his hand to any type of music at all.
"He taught the cello, and his incredible patience and encouragement - even with the slowest of students - made him a very good teacher.
I'm devastated.
He was a really likeable person and such good fun that I keep thinking this has been a horrible mistake," the BBC reported[6].