Woman trapped under tractor near Macksville rescued after 3 days

An 82-year-old woman was trapped under a tractor for three days on a remote Mid-North Coast property. Hear how she was found.

An 82-year-old woman was flown to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition on Sunday evening after being trapped under a tractor for three days. Picture: Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service

When calls from an 82-year-old’s sister went unanswered for three days, emergency services swung into action.

The woman, who lives on a property at Congarinni Rd in Talarm – about 10 kilometres west of Macksville on the Mid-North Coast – was rescued from underneath a tractor on Sunday evening.

Macksville Fire and Rescue NSW captain David Brunsdon said he understood that the sisters called each other every day and after calls on Friday, Saturday and Sunday went unanswered, authorities were alerted.

Captain Brunsdon said Fire and Rescue NSW were called about 6.30pm on Sunday and crews from Bowraville and Nambucca attended to provide lighting and help remove the tractor with hydraulic rescue equipment

The rescue operation continued until just before midnight.

Mr Brunsdon said the tractor had not rolled onto its side, but that the woman was pinned underneath its wheels by the legs. He said it was a protracted and delicate operation to free her and she was conscious throughout the ordeal.

The elderly woman was treated on the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter critical care medical team.

She was flown to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition.