A firefighter has been arrested after a farmer was crushed to death by stampeding cows that may have been spooked by a fire engine's siren and flashing lights, it emerged today.
Harold Lee, of Robins Farm, in Burtle, near Bridgwater, Somerset, was fatally injured when he was trampled by his own herd last August.
His family have alleged the animals were distressed by the emergency lights and sounds of the fire engine that was heading to a nearby emergency.
Lee, who was 75, died in hospital five days after he was left with severe head and chest injuries.
Police launched an inquiry and after six months officers confirmed a 49-year old-man from Somerset has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by negligence. The unnamed man has been bailed until the end of this week.
Lee's son Andrew has alleged the accident could have been avoided had the fire crew waited for just a few minutes as the cows were safely herded off the road.
Andrew Lee said: "We have always said this incident should not have happened.Things are pretty raw at the moment and will be until we get some answers as to why he died. He was a family man and a community man. He lived for Burtle - that was his life and he loved it."
A spokesman for the Devon and Somerset fire and rescue service refused to comment about the arrest. Earlier the service has said the crew was on its way to a traffic collision.