Man’s hands severed in horrific Ballandean workplace accident

Emergency services have told of the “very important” role colleagues played in helping a man who has lost both arms in a horrific workplace accident after they became trapped in machinery at a southeast Queensland business.

Paramedics are at the scene of a workplace accident at Ballandean.

A MAN whose arms were severed in a workplace accident on the Granite Belt is undergoing surgery in Brisbane.

The man, 40, suffered critical injuries at the Watters Rd business at Ballandean shortly before 8am.

His arms were severed below his elbows in the horrific incident.

It is believed the man got his hand caught in a processing machine at the mushroom farm and, on trying to free himself, got his second hand trapped inside.

His co-workers rushed to give him first aid and managed to free him, applying tourniquets to stem the severe bleeding as a result of the accident.

Darling Downs Local Ambulance Network executive manager operations Glen Maule described their actions as “very important” and helped paramedics who arrived on scene within 20 minutes.

“They did apply tourniquets to the injured arms of the gentleman which helped… control some of the severe haemorrhaging that was happening,” Mr Maule said.

“The injuries have been very serious and the gentleman has sustained a substantial amount of blood loss because of these injuries.”

An anaesthetist from Stanthorpe Hospital and a nurse were called in to work alongside paramedics at the property, setting up intravenous lines to stabilise the man for transport to hospital.

“The initial crew that did arrive on scene were faced with these horrific injuries and were able to stabilise the gentleman,” Mr Maule said.

“(Paramedics) set up some IV lines before the medical team arrived on scene.

“They did as much as they possibly could with the skills and the equipment and the drug therapies they had.”

Mr Maule said the man also suffered burns from the machine in the incident.

Another man at the workplace was treated for shock but did not require transport to hospital.

The owner of the business has described the moment the horrific incident was discovered.

Neil Newman, the owner of the Ballandean mushroom and spawn suppliers, said his thoughts were with the man involved.

“Until we get an investigation under way to piece together what’s happened there isn’t much we can say,” Mr Newman said.

“Needless to say, it was an accident that shouldn’t have happened.

“We wish him a speedy recovery.”

Mr Newman said the worker was stabilised on site before being taken by LifeFlight to Brisbane.

“Nobody actually saw the incident,” he said.

“We had a guy here delivering straw who heard him yelling out and he went to help out.

“With our first aid officers, we administered aid until ambulances arrived.”

A Workplace Health and Safety Queensland spokeswoman confirmed the incident was under investigation.

Originally published as Man’s hands severed in horrific Ballandean workplace accident