A “one-in-a-million” farming accident last week resulted in the arm of an experienced worker being completely severed after it was caught in a hay baler. armer Nathan McPherson said his good friend Adam Symons, both from Ganmain in the New South Wales Riverina, was lucky to escape with his life after he became entwined in the hay baler.
“He was just doing a routine check on his baler and has got his hand caught in the baler, and it took it completely off from the elbow,” Mr McPherson said.
“And the way he is, he is a good man, full of character, he jumped in the tractor and drove 400 metres to find the paddock where they were stacking bales to get help.
“The farmer was quick-thinking and he saved his life by putting something around his arm to stop the bleeding.”
A helicopter transported Mr Symons, 36, from the property to hospital in Canberra.
“For his arm to be completely off his body for three-and-a-half hours and rolling around in a baler, and for them to secure the arm back on, is just a one-in-a-million story — I hope,” Mr McPherson said.
“It’s a pretty horrific story, he is travelling OK now, and they have somehow managed to put the arm back on.
“He has got a pulse in his hand and some movement in his fingers, which is a great sign.”
Mr McPherson said the incident served as a reminder that farmers and agricultural workers should not become complacent when operating machinery.
“It just goes to show how careful you have to be around machinery, no matter how long you’ve been doing it,” he said.
“Being on a farm myself, you can get a bit blasé about things.
“With the up-and-coming harvest and baling season, when you work long hours, it’s a good reality check to everyone that these things can happen.
“I know people have close calls, but you have just got to take a step back and look after yourself and take precautions when you’re using machinery.”
Source: ABC News
