‘Man who loved his cows’: Tributes flow for farmer killed in wild weather

A farmer who died after he was struck by a loose piece of metal during the state’s wild weather on Tuesday, recorded a chilling video two hours before the fatal incident.

Bruce Manintveld is being remembered as a dedicated farmer who "loved his cows" after he was killed when he was struck by metal during Tuesday's strong winds. Picture: Twitter.

A Victorian man who was killed when wild weather swept the state on Tuesday is being remembered as a dedicated dairy farmer who “loved his cows”.

Bruce Manintveld was in the field of his Mirboo North farm with his cattle when he captured a video of the storm rolling in, before sharing it to X with the caption “incoming” at about 4pm.

Two hours after, the 50 year old was found dead after strong winds sent a large sheet of metal towards him, fatally striking the farmer and several of his cows.

“Bruce passed away shortly after his last Twitter posting on Tues. night,” his devastated wife Fiona shared to social media.

“He was racing the storm to bring the cows in. He rolled the dice and lost. That’s farming though … you roll the dice – he normally won. Not this time.”

Incoming pic.twitter.com/Yy0tqkSL7D

— Bruce Manintveld (@BruceManintveld) February 13, 2024

Knox basketball club Ferntree Gully Falcons also paid tribute to Mr Manintveld, as it had ties with the farmer and his wife’s family.

“It is with great sadness that we share the news of the sudden passing of Bruce Manintveld, who was tragically killed during the recent Victorian storm on Tuesday,” he said.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the extended Baker family in this difficult time.”

The club asked all teams to wear black armbands during their games this weekend to honour the farmer.

The Mirboo North community has also rallied around Mr Manintveld’s family, with neighbours helping Fiona manage the farm.

“Her neighbouring farmers are giving her a hand in keeping her dairy herd milked and ensuring that there are enough paddocks with secure fencing to get her through the next week,” a relative of Fiona shared on social media.

This is his wife Fiona @YonBaker Bruce passed away shortly after his last Twitter posting on Tues night. He was racing the storm to bring the cows in. He rolled the 🎲 & lost. Thats farming though…you roll the 🎲 - he normally won. Not this time. A man who loved his cows 💔

— Bruce Manintveld (@BruceManintveld) February 16, 2024

“The farm is still without power – much like most of the district – but a generator has been organised for tomorrow for the house (the dairy is running on tractor power). We have taken her supplies of bottled water and hot food.”

WorkSafe reported strong winds caused the sheet of metal that killed Mr Manintveld to detach from a shed at his Gippsland property.

“It is believed the 50-year-old was operating a quad bike while moving cattle when he and several cows were hit about 6pm,” a WorkSafe spokesman said in a statement.

Emergency services were called to the farm on Boolarra-Mirboo North Road about 6pm, but Mr Manintveld was unable to be revived.