John Betteridge critical after machinery incident near Alligator Creek Mackay

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched for a Mackay grandfather who suffered horror injuries when he was thrown up to seven metres from a boom lift.

A Gofundme campaign has been launched for Mackay grandfather John Betteridge who suffered gruesome injuries after he was thrown from a boom lift near Alligator Creek.

Loved ones are rallying behind the family of a Mackay grandfather who suffered horror injuries after being flung up to seven meters from a boom lift in a “freak accident”.

John Betteridge had been helping a mate on his property near Alligator Creek on Friday when he suffered collapsed lungs, punctured bowels, broken ribs, jaw, nose, elbow, arm and femur and has fractured eye sockets.

“Unfortunately for him, the boom lift he was on tipped over throwing him out of the bucket from about (six to seven) meters high,” Family member Elina Garyfallidis wrote in a GoFundMe campaign for Mr Betteridge.

“He certainly had his angels looking out for him that day as right below him were the cattle grids and steel steps and yet he landed on the field of grass beside it.”

John Betteridge was in critical condition after a boom lift accident in Mackay. Photo: Contributed

Multiple Queensland Ambulance crews were called to a private property on Perry Road near Alligator Creek at 9.40am.

Ms Garyfallidis write Mr Betteridge went into cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived.

He was taken to Mackay Base Hospital arriving about 11am, but was later flown to Townsville Hospital to monitor swelling around the brain and be accessed by a neurologist.

“John is responding well to treatment so far and is fighting hard. It’s not his time yet; he always says he’s going to live to be 108,” Ms Garyfallidis wrote.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched for Mackay grandfather John Betteridge who suffered gruesome injuries after he was thrown from a boom lift near Alligator Creek.

“It will be a long road to recovery with all the multiple surgeries planned for him.”

Ms Garyfallidis wrote anyone who knew Mr Betteridge “knows how generous and loving he is”.

“He will go out of his way to help anyone in need. He believes his purpose in life is to inspire and guide people to be their ultimate self,” she wrote

“The moment you engage and speak with him, you are instantly moved by the way he expresses all the positivity he believes in.”

Emergency services raced to the scene of a boom lift rollover on Perry Road near Alligator Creek on the morning of May 5, 2023. Picture: Michaela Harlow

Ms Garyfallidis wrote she was setting up the campaign “to help out with the costs of living, bills and expenses that need to be paid while mum’s in hospital by John’s side”.

“If you aren’t able to donate, please keep John in your thoughts and manifest his healing journey – that would mean a lot to him and mum,” she wrote.

To view his GoFundMe page visit here.

Police, firefighters and the Mackay Forensic Crash Unit was attended the incident and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has confirmed it is investigating.

The Betteridge family has been contacted for comment.