ULSTER RUGBY IS reeling from the news that wing/centre Nevin Spence has died, along with his brother and his father, in an accident on a farm in County Down.

The tragedy took place at a slurry pit near Hillsborough, according to reports.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service responded to a 999 call at approximately 6.15pm on Saturday after it was reported that at least three people had fallen into a slurry tank.

A woman was also injured in the incident.

“One of the four showed initial signs of responding to the efforts of the crews and was transported immediately to the nearby Lagan Valley Hospital, where unfortunately he died a short time later,” said a spokesman for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service.

“Despite the best efforts of all involved the other two men died at the scene.

“A female was treated at the scene and taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital where she is recovering from the effects of fume inhalation.”

Spence had been recovering from injury so played no part in Ulster’s clash against Munster on Friday night, though he did start for the Ulster Ravens against Munster A earlier in the day.

The 22-year-old also trained with the Ireland 6 Nations squad earlier this year.

TheJournal.ie wishes to extend its sincerest sympathies to those closest to the Spence family.

Father and two sons killed in slurry tank incident >