Alexandria Joy’s ‘bionic ears’ heard neighbour Stu Battle’s cries for help following Wollombi property accident

The faint call for help softly echoing across a remote part of the Hunter Valley that prompted an intricate, three-hour rescue in dense bushland is this year’s Christmas miracle.

At first, Alexandria “AJ” Joy put the distant calls of her name down to the ancient spirits of the land she calls home – a couple of dozen kilometres on the dense bush side of Cessnock.

It was in the middle of the midday heat on Wednesday when she returned to her car to grab the rest of the Christmas groceries when she heard it again.

And then there was the faint cry through the eucalypts that she won’t forget in a hurry: “AJ. Help me”.

Stu Battle was trapped under an overturned mower for hours following an accident at his Wollombi property. Picture: Supplied.

It was AJ’s neighbour at Wollombi, Stu Battle, who had already spent an hour trapped under a ride-on mower after it had rolled and pinned him in ant-infested earth.

“I unleashed the dogs and we ran towards the voice,’’ AJ said.

“We had no idea what we were running towards.’’

Paramedics and rescue crews worked for two hours to successfully free Stu Battle from underneath the mower. Picture: Supplied.

Over a kilometre away, AJ and her dogs Spirit and M-Bari found Stu. He was still conscious but was struggling after more than 60 minutes in the sun and energy-sapping humidity.

He had been doing some good Samaritan duties of mowing a tourist walking trail to some popular caves when the mower keeled over and down a step incline.

The upturned mower which Stu Battle spent three hours trapped under. Picture: Supplied.

The machine was on top of him, with one leg protruding out one side and his head and the other limb out the other. The ants had begun helping themselves and Stu was in significant pain and discomfort.

“You couldn’t move the mower. Every time you touched it, the pressure on his back and head was just too much,’’ AJ said.

With no mobile service and no one else around, AJ had to run back home to get help.

Alexandria “AJ” Joy jokes she has bionic ears after hearing the faint cries of her injured neighbour. Picture: Supplied.

But not before Stu told her to grab a car jack from his place so they could lift the machine off him.

Instead, AJ rang triple-0 and was promptly told not to move anything – Stu may have suffered a serious crush injury and any movement could be fatal.

She also couldn’t give in to Stu’s pleas for water after more advice from the triple-0 operator.

Stu Battle was trapped under an overturned mower for hours following an accident at his Wollombi property. Picture: Supplied.

The Westpac rescue helicopter was called as emergency services raced to the scene.

It also meant at least five laps to and from the scene for AJ, like getting a bright-coloured blanket to guide in the chopper pilot and running back to a gate to drag in paramedics and Cessnock VRA personnel.

Stu Battle was trapped under an overturned mower for hours following an accident at his Wollombi property. Picture: Supplied.

“I think my watch said we covered more than nine kilometres. I am thankful for my daily walks,’’ AJ said.

After another two hours, the expert volunteers from Cessnock District Rescue Squad had slowly but surely released Stu from his life-threatening predicament.

He was flown to John Hunter Hospital where he was told he had somehow escaped any fractures and may still be home for Christmas.

Stu Battle was winched aboard the Westpac rescue helicopter and flown to John Hunter Hospital for treatment. Picture: Supplied.t

“I am just so glad I heard his calls. I am telling you, I have bionic ears,’’ AJ joked.

“And one good thing to come out of this is a few neighbours have already spoken about us all getting EPIRBS in case something else happens and we need help.