Tractor Trauma

The front and rear windows have blown out and the rear light dangles from the one remaining wire. The roof is fractured and the tyre guard broken. The interior is covered with shattered glass and rubber seals hang limply without any glass to hold. The driver is shaken, his shoulders and arms glinting in the sunshine from the tiny shards of glass sprayed all over him. There are only a few trickles of blood down one arm. His faithful kelpie sits beside him, wondering, I'm sure, what the hell happened and why is there a large tree resting on top of the tractor they where sitting in moments before. 

I received the call late this afternoon. It was the tone that gave him away. Daryl has particular tones for different circumstances and this one caused my heart to stop, for just a second.

It turns out while felling trees in the morass, one didn't read the rule-book and landed the wrong way - smack bang on top of the John Deere. 

A relatively simple task, the chain was attached to the partially sawed tree (largish around 30 metres) and Daryl began to pull the tree down with the tractor. He had placed the tractor on the safe side of a second tree to ensure that he was not in line of the fall, however as the fall happened, the top two-thirds of the tree split away from the trunk, slid down a different tree, which was on a lean, and the impact directed the broken portion onto the top of the tractor, with Daryl and Mia inside.

In the space of three seconds a very productive day was shot and we were once again reminded how  vulnerable we can be.

 In a strange coincidence last year on the 12th of April, Daryl had another accident with the then newly purchased tractor and a tree.

I think next year we should go on holidays between April 10th and 15th - just to be sure!

The tractor has now been limped back up into the shed, awaiting the insurance assessment, the tree lays where it fell and Daryl is thankfully minus the million tiny specks of glass and safely sitting in front of the fire.

The result could have been very different. How truly fortunate we are tonight.

What do we learn from this experience?

• Always carry a phone with you when working alone
• Preferably do not work alone when felling trees
• Material items can be replaced, tractors can be repaired
• Lives cannot be replaced
• Daryl should not use the tractor in April - ever!

Until next time.

Cheers
N