Mike Edwards, a founding member of the colossal 1970s rock band ELO, tragically lost his life in a bizarre farming mishap. The accomplished cellist was instantly killed when a rolling hay bale struck him as he drove his van along a rural road in Devon.

The 62-year-old was travelling on the A381 in Halwell, Devon, in September 2010 when the 600kg hay bale rolled down a steep field in Devonshire, crashing through a hedge before continuing its deadly journey downhill. Gathering speed, it eventually landed atop Edwards' white van.

Police inquiries led them to conclude that the 'brilliant' musician died almost instantaneously from the sheer force of the impact after being forced to swerve when the hay bale hit, causing him to collide with another vehicle. Despite the collision occurring around 12:30pm, the second driver emerged relatively unharmed from the incident.

Edwards, who in his later years resided in Totnes and was a founding member of the classical Devon Baroque orchestra, was identified as the victim of this fatal and unusual event through photographs and YouTube footage from his time as a musician, as well as his tenure with the Electric Light Orchestra.

The following evening, on Saturday, Edwards was scheduled to perform with the medieval folk ensemble Daughters of Elvin in Totnes. Police reportedly faced initial difficulties in locating Edwards' relatives, though they eventually managed to contact his brother David, who was residing in Yorkshire.

The inquest subsequently disclosed that the 62 year old sustained a fractured skull and spine.

After the inquest, his brother stated: "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."

David and other family members urged the Health and Safety Executive to raise awareness about the hazards associated with baling hay on sloping terrain adjacent to roads. He added: "My brother's death has touched so many people's lives...

"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."

Friends and fellow musicians expressed their tributes and sympathies to the BBC following his unexpected passing. Angus Gordon, the chairman of Devon Baroque, remarked: "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," reported the BBC.