Farm worker shares inspiring story after losing limb in workplace crush

A 23-year-old traveller working on a remote Territory cattle station has shared his incredible journey to recovery after losing a limb in a horror accident. WARNING: SENSITIVE IMAGES

Three months’ farm work is a rite of passage for thousands of backpackers exploring the wonders Down Under each year, but for Henry Dunn the trip of a lifetime took a horrific turn while helping out at a Northern Territory cattle station.

On November 15 the 23-year-old British backpacker was just one week away from finishing his time working on the remote Larrimah station when a post driver he was using to hammer fences into the ground crushed his left arm, requiring it to be amputated below the elbow.

British backpacker Henry Dunn lost his lower left arm after a workplace accident on a remote Northern Territory cattle station. Picture: Supplied

Now on the long road to recovery, Mr Dunn has set up a GoFundMe to try cover costs not captured under the Northern Territory Workers’ Compensation Scheme.

Mr Dunn graduated from Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2020, and was excited when Covid restrictions finally allowed him to set off on his gap year adventure travelling through Southeast Asia, New Zealand, and Australia early last year.

“In the 11 months of being away, I met amazing people, experienced new cultures, foods, and activities which all aided my personal development and view of the world,” Mr Dunn said on his GoFundMe page.

“For the last three months, I set out to work on a cattle station in the Northern Territory; an amazing experience where I learnt so much about working with cattle and station life.”

Mr Dunn remembered his time on the station fondly, despite the horrific end to his three months of farm work. Picture: Supplied

When a day’s work went horribly wrong, Mr Dunn travelled by ute, ambulance and a 500km CareFlight to Royal Darwin Hospital where emergency surgery resulted in the amputation of his lower limb.

“It wasn’t the end to my travels anyone expected but what’s most important now is building a strong foundation for both my physical and mental recovery,” he said.

In the seven months since the incident, Mr Dunn’s social media documents his incredible improvements – videos showing him lifting weights, doing pull ups and using a rowing machine with his new arm.

Last month he was fitted with a prosthesis that has a hook that works when pulled by his opposite shoulder.

“My right shoulder now controls my left hand grip so getting used to new movements is causing daily challenges,” Mr Dunn wrote in an Instagram post.

“My “residual limb” is changing shape all of the time as it goes through different stages of healing. Doctors explained the healing like baking a pie. The outside looks ready but inside is still raw; still a long way to go.”

Mr Dunn said the care he received in the Territory was “amazing”. Picture: Supplied

Through it all, Mr Dunn has remained positive about his time in the Territory, remembering the “amazing support and care” he received.

“The people who were there made my last few weeks in Australia more bearable by lifting my spirits in difficult times,” he said.

“I can’t thank enough the people who were involved in getting me to the Royal Darwin Hospital … from my friends at the pub who helped initially, the paramedics, doctors and pilots who brought me to the hospital and then the surgeons and nurses who looked after me … not forgetting my dad who was out to Aus as quick as he could to keep me company, and give me the support I needed.”

Mr Dunn’s GoFundMe has so far raised almost $15,000 which he says will go towards regaining “the exciting and adventurous life I previously lived”.

You can donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/henry-dunn-gfm

Originally published as Farm worker shares inspiring story after losing limb in workplace crush