Albie Speakman is the 3 year old child of Leah Bridge and Neil Speakman. Tragically, Albie died on July 16, 2022, after being hit by a telehandler operated by his father at their family farm in Tottington, Greater Manchester.
The incident occurred when Albie was in the yard, while his father was reversing the vehicle. Despite efforts to save him, Albie was announced dead soon after the accident.
Albie Speakman Parents
Albie was born on April 8, 2019, in the UK. Leah Bridge is Albie mother and Neil Speakman is his father, he says Albie as his best friend highlighting the closeness they enjoyed as father and son.
He also has a little brother, Ebon Albie Gregory, born on July 28, 2023, Ebon is growing fine in complete care of their mother.
Albie was raised on his family’s farm located off Bentley Hall Road in the Tottington area of Bury, Greater Manchester, UK. He lived there with his father, Neil Speakman, his partner Millie Barrack and his grandfather Jefferey Speakman.
Albie developed a deep affection for farm life and often spend time with his grandfather whom he called gran-gran and enjoyed activities like sitting on the tractor and caring for the family pet pig Polly. Leah Bridge and Neil Speakman divorced shortly after their son Albie’s birth. Their relationship ended during the early months of parenthood, and they also had been living apart for several years before the tragedy in July 2022.
HOw Albie Speakman Died?
Albie Speakman tragically lost his life on 16 July 2022 Saturday,at approximately 12:45 PM when he was struck by a telehandler vehicle driven by his father at their family farm in Bury, Greater Manchester. At the time, he was playing in the back garden, throwing sticks into the air for the dogs while his dad climbed onto a telehandler, a large machine used to lift and transport loads and started moving bags of woodchips.
Read: Who is Nazim Moti? Meet his Wife and Kidnapped Sons
Neil Speakman drove forward, dropped the forks and reversed back. Neil felt asif he hit something like a brick, he would later say, giving evidence of the incident. After he turned around, the horror of what had happened became clear. Neil saw Albie’s legs and picked his son up and ran inside. There were also three other adults present that day on the farm and it was pure carelessness of Neil that caused Albie to lose his life.
After the Accident
Albie was then rushed to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. He was tragically pronounced dead that afternoon, having suffered multiple injuries to his head, body and legs. A court case was held on Loganada at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court and it began on 14 January 2024, when Neil Speakman was scheduled to stand trial on a gross negligence manslaughter charge.
In the court case Niel admitted to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act, having to ensure the health and safety of Albie, but he did appeal that the telehandler he was operating wasn’t in the best condition, it had a wing mirror missing and Neil even told he used the vehicle’s controls to move the bucket around while Ms Barrack was inside.
The court was told a letter was said to have been sent by the Health and Safety Executive warning Neil of the potentially fatal consequences of having a bad condition tractor but He claimed he never got the letter. He claims that he even checked his surroundings multiple times before he operated the telehandler but the wing mirror missing is a huge reason why he didn’t see Albie.
Neil Speakman was sentenced on 28 February 2025 at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court for breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 following the tragic death of his son, Albie, which included a 12-month prison sentence, to be served in custody, with a minimum of six months imprisonment before eligibility for release on licence and the court deemed immediate custody was necessary with 12 months of licence supervision after the jail time and was ordered to pay £2,000 in court costs.
For Now, Leah Bridge or Albie’s Mother is engaged in raising her younger son Ebon and is also giving continuous tributes to her late son Albie Walksman through her Instagram account which goes by “leahbridge“.
