Farm safety is once again in the spotlight following news of a farmer who sustained life-threatening chest injuries after he punctured his lung on a tractor spike.
Dennis Bowman, who farms between Renwick and Croglin near Kirkoswald, Cumbria sustained the severe injuries when a grab spike from his tractor loader pierced his chest.
Mr Bowman, who was carrying out maintenance on the machinery at the time, was thrown to the ground by the impact, but not before the ten inch spike had broken his rib and punctured his lung, leaving an open cavity on his chest.
He was working on his own at the time but somehow managed to pick himself off the floor and alert his wife, Barbara.
“I’m glad I got to my feet there and then,” the 69-year-old said. “If I hadn’t, I’m not sure I would have been able to after a couple of minutes.”
Extensive injuries
He was able to get a lift to the doctor’s surgery in Kirkoswald and astounded the local GP by walking through the door despite his extensive injuries.
A North West Ambulance Service paramedic was on scene but it was clear that Dennis needed flying to the nearest major trauma centre, which is Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.
The Great North Air Ambulance Service, based nearby in Langwathby, arrived within a few minutes. Dr Theo Weston, of GNAAS, assessed Mr Bowman and administered advanced pain relief before the grandfather of eight was airlifted to Newcastle.
The whole ordeal was captured by a television production company who spent last summer embedded with GNAAS. The footage was shown as part of the ten part series, Emergency Helicopter Medics, now available on Channel 4's on demand service, All 4.
Mr Bowman paid tribute to all those who played a part in his recovery: “People don’t realise just how much difference the air ambulance makes,” he said.
“I know the ambulance paramedic and she said by road it would have taken about an hour and a half, but we were there in about 15 minutes.”
Machinery safety
Within a week of coming out of hospital, Mr Bowman was back doing light work around the farm, with neighbours stepping in to help with more labour-intensive jobs.
“That’s just what happens round here,” he said, thanking members of the community who had rallied round to help.
Poorly used or faulty vehicles and machinery are the biggest cause of death and injury on farms.
According to Martin Malone from the Scotland Farm Safety Partnership: “Machinery and transport continue to be the main causes of life changing and life ending injuries on farms.
“In fact 40 per cent of all farm workers who have lost their lives in agriculture over the past decade were workplace machinery-transport related.”
