Vehmelha Station manager Lindsay Elliot avoids fine after 23yo Henry Dunn loses arm in accident

A British backpacker whose arm was crushed on a remote Territory cattle station has shared his “moving” story of recovery post-amputation.

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

A Territory cattle station manager who exposed young cowboys to serious safety violations, resulting in a British backpacker losing his arm, has escaped conviction.

Vehmelha Station manager Lindsay Clive Elliot appeared before Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris for sentencing on Wednesday, two years after Henry Dunn lost his arm in a horrific machinery accident.

The manager pleaded guilty to failing to comply with his health and safety duties as the station manager of the Larrimah cattle company, putting two young men at risk of serious harm or death in November 2022.

To install a fence Mr Dunn – who was then aged 23 – was asked to hold posts in place while his mate operated a tractor with an attached post-driver.

Ms Morris said the machinery meant a “very heavy hammer or dolly could free fall” when the lever was pulled.

Mr Dunn told the court losing his arm had a ‘profound and ongoing’ impact on his life.

Critically, the control leavers were not clearly labelled, and a recommended safety cage was not installed.

Ms Morris said the other worker accidentally activated the hydraulic system, causing the hammer to “slam down” on Mr Dunn’s arm.

With 500km separating Mr Dunn from Royal Darwin Hospital, the seriously injured man had to travel by ute and ambulance before finally getting a CareFlight evacuation to the emergency room.

But the severity of the crush injuries meant Mr Dunn’s left arm had to be amputated from below the elbow.

The young British backpacker told the court that losing his arm had a “profound and ongoing impact on his life”.

“There was the shock and trauma from the moment of the injury, the dealing with the amputation, and the treatment and ongoing physical therapy required,” Mr Dunn said.

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

While he continued to suffer from ongoing pain and discomfort, Ms Morris said Mr Dunn showed resilience and strength following the tragedy.

She said he had found new sports to play and that he continued his science degree in sports injuries and rehabilitation.

“Here is a young man, whilst devastated by his injury, but intent on giving himself the best chance of recovery both physically and mentally,” Ms Morris said.

The Chief Judge also found Mr Elliot was genuinely remorseful over the accident which permanently impaired a young man he “hired and worked with”.

British backpacker Henry Dunn before the accident.

Ms Morris said Mr Elliot’s character references spoke to a careful and caring manager, a talented ringer and a “gentleman” with a “safety first approach”.

She also noted that prior to the accident there had been requests to the station owner to purchase a new tractor and a post hole digger, which would have been safety compliant.

Ms Morris decided to not impose any conviction or a fine in light of Mr Elliot’s excellent character, remorse and his employer’s binding safety commitments.

Mr Elliot will have to abide by a 12-month community corrections order and Ms Morris imposed a $300 victims levy.

His employer, Queensland-based cattle company Vermelha and director Hoang Diep Nguyen, had signed onto a $200,000 enforceable undertaking to improve safety conditions on the Katherine region station.