Residents have told of their shock after two men died and two others were injured following a wall collapse at a Scottish farm.
The accident happened at Myrehead Farm near the village of Whitecross, between Linlithgow and Falkirk, at around 10.10am on Monday.
Local people said the dead and injured were from a contracting firm which had been working on site.
The two men who were hurt suffered injuries which are not thought to be life-threatening.
One was taken by ambulance to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, while the other was airlifted to Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
It is believed the accident happened close to former farm outbuildings, which are being converted into homes.
The green-field plot had once been marketed as a development opportunity to turn the steading and historic mill-house into four homes.
Planning permission has been given at the site for six new-build homes with “potential for further new build plots and paddocks available”.
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Janette Gray, 59, a construction company director, said: “We heard some sirens but neither of us realised what had happened.
“It’s absolutely a shock, especially with two fatalities – it’s awful.
“It was a holiday today too. Why were they working on a Bank Holiday? It is awful for the families, absolutely awful for them.”
William Henderson, the owner of the farm, said that he did not know the two men who had died and was waiting to talk to the police.
He said: “It’s quite a shock and I’m waiting to get more information myself.
“The police are still speaking to the contractor so I am not at liberty to discuss it further.”
The Health and Safety Executive were informed following the incident.
Road closures were put in place following the tragedy, while emergency services were still at the scene seven hours later.
A 300-yard long footpath to the already converted farmhouse was out of bounds, with a police officer guarding it.
At around 1.15pm, a visibly emotional woman was seen being consoled.
Three men, believed to have been workers, were also seen getting into a police van which drove off.
Forensics officers arrived swiftly on site and, by 3.20pm, there was just a police truck and a police car outside the outbuildings.
While locals told of their shock at what had happened, one teenager said he had arrived from Grangemouth to ensure that his friend, Reece David, who lived in the farmhouse, was alive and well.
He said that Mr David had posted a video of a helicopter leaving the scene online on Snapchat, which had given him reassurance of his wellbeing.
“We were panicking when we heard the news because my friend stays there,” he said.
“As soon as I heard, I was thinking the worst. I thought, ‘Oh my god’.
“But he put a video up this afternoon so he must be all right, thank goodness.
“It’s terrible what has happened, though.”
Local residents in High Manuel told how they had heard the sirens but had no idea of the gravity of what had happened until later in the day.
One said: “We knew there was something serious happening, but we didn’t realise how serious. It’s a bit of a shock.
“Periodically people come to do work there. “The whole place was being developed and the [farmhouse] was the first to be done. Since then it was just bits and pieces of work.”
Another said: “I’ve lived here for many years and it is a quiet spot, that’s why I like it here.
“You will not be surprised to hear that I have not known there to be such police activity in this area. Periodically people come to do work there.
One woman who arrived with her daughter from Polmont said: “I thought there was a murder with all the police. It’s a horrible thing to see.”
Local MSP Angus MacDonald said: “I’m shocked and saddened to hear of this news from the Whitecross area of my constituency.
“My thoughts are with the families affected.”
Chief Inspector Damian Armstrong, local area commander for Falkirk, said: “My thoughts and sympathies are with the family of those affected by this incident and a multi-agency inquiry at the farm is ongoing. If anyone believes they have any relevant information that may be of use to this investigation then please come forward and quote incident 1081 of the 6th May.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service responded at 10.11am on Monday, May 6, with emergency service partners to a farm in the Falkirk area following reports of a collapsed wall.
“Operations Control mobilised a number of fire appliances to the Whitecross area and firefighters currently remain in attendance.”
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