Two hurt in farm accidents

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A TRAMPLED stock truck driver and a farm worker who rolled a quad bike were admitted to the intensive care unit at Gisborne Hospital yesterday after separate on-farm accidents.

Both men were reported to be in a stable condition this morning.

The first accident happened on a property about 20 minutes inland from Tolaga Bay at about midday when a quad bike a farm worker was riding went off a track and rolled.

“The man, in his late 50s, was able to walk back to his home on the property,” a police spokesman said.

“He was taken from there to the Tolaga Bay Medical Centre initially for treatment.”

A St John ambulance from Gisborne was despatched to bring him to Gisborne Hospital where he was admitted to the ICU.

A second incidentThe second incident happened at about 4.30pm yesterday on a farm about 20 kilometres up the Pehiri Road.

“A stock truck driver was unloading cattle when one of the beasts caught the driver on the race at the back of the truck,” a St John spokeswoman said.

“The 77-year-old was felled and trampled by the beast and he suffered serious multiple injuries.”

The man lay injured for quite some time until found by someone from the farm.

The ECT rescue helicopter was called to the scene at about 6.30pm last night.

“The chopper landed in a paddock near the yards,” she said.

The driver was stabilised at the scene by St John paramedics on the helicopter, then flown to hospital where he was also admitted to the intensive care unit.

WorkSafe NZ inquiries have been initiated into both mishaps.