It seems unbelievable that anyone could survive being knocked down by a 500 kilogram bale of feed, but Denmark farmer George Ross lived to tell the tale.
George has managed his cattle farm on the outskirts of Denmark for more than 50 years.
Last year, the 77-year-old was feeding his stock when a giant bale rolled off his Ford Louisville truck, knocking George sideways off his feet and landing on his legs.
“I didn’t see it – I just felt it,” George said.
His son Rodney scrambled to lift George into the truck’s cab so he wasn’t trampled by the hungry cows.
George didn’t know at the time that he’d broken two vertebrae, his pelvis and collarbone. Rodney rushed him to Denmark Hospital, but it was clear he needed to be flown to Perth for further treatment.
The RFDS picked George up on a PC-12 aircraft, with retrieval nurse Libby Stearne recalling how stoic he was despite his multiple broken bones.
“We loaded him onto a vacuum mattress which helps to immobilise a patient with multiple broken bones, making the journey a little more comfortable,” she said. “We also used the intravenous electronic pump to deliver hydration and pain relief.”
“Everyone says I am a tough old bugger, but I didn’t feel very tough at the time,” George said.
George spent nine weeks at Fiona Stanley Hospital undergoing rehabilitation. He’s proud that less than 12 months on from the accident, he’s no longer taking any medication. He walks with a slight limp, and his son Rodney has had to take over many of the manual farm duties.
“I feel like one of the luckiest people on the planet that I am still here,” George said.
I don’t remember much of it but undoubtedly the Flying Doctor helped save my life - thank God for the RFDS.
George