A 61-year-old man has been flown to Westmead hospital in a stable condition after both his legs were crushed by part of a water tank on a remote part of his property this afternoon.
CareFlight’s rapid response helicopter was tasked just after 3.30pm today to attend the property near Buketty in the Hunter region of New South Wales.
The man was working on constructing the water tank when part of it came loose from the bobcat he was operating, pinning his legs under part of the tank, trapping him inside the bobcat.
The man told the CareFlight team he had been trapped for more than an hour and a half before he was able to raise the alarm due to the fact he was alone and on a remote part of his land. Only once he was able to restart the bobcat and create a loud dragging noise were neighbours able to hear him.
CareFlight’s specialist doctor and critical care paramedic were the first to arrive on the scene and they provided initial pain relief to the
man, and waited for NSW Fire and Rescue and Volunteer Rescue Association crews to arrive so they could start the precision hour-long rescue operation required to free him, and keep him clinically stable.
Part of the tank had seriously crushed the man’s legs, and he had been in the position for a significant amount of time, so crews worked rapidly to ensure he didn’t develop more serious and significant injuries as a result of the crushing impact on his legs.
The man received initial treatment at the scene before he was transported onto the helicopter and flown to Westmead Hospital in a stable condition.
