Man in critical condition after fall into dam at Carters Ridge

A tough 95-year-old Queensland farmer is in a critical condition in hospital after a neighbour found him trapped in mud by a dam, where he had been for two days. LATEST

An elderly man was found in a “distressing” state when he was rescued on a private property at Carters Ridge near Gympie.

Thomas Killen, 95, fell into a dam on Sunday and remained there alone for two days.

Mr Killen remains in a critical condition in hospital, a Sunshine Coast University Hospital spokeswoman said on Wednesday morning.

Queensland Ambulance operations supervisor Shaun Bright said the man fell off his tractor and was left stranded for two days.

Emergency services were called to the scene on Tuesday morning after his neighbour Dave Grey raised the alarm.

Mr Bright said he was suffering from hypothermia and severe dehydration from the sun.

“It was absolutely incredible to see the condition he was in,” Mr Bright said.

“Obviously he is a very stoic gentleman.”

The 95-year-old farmer was trapped in the dam after his tractor got bogged. Photo: Nine News.

Mr Killen was found in an “altered conscious state”, covered in mud and water and had multiple cuts and abrasions, Mr Bright said.

“It was pretty distressing for our crews to see,” Mr Bright said.

The man mostly worked alone on his property and was operating his tractor when the incident occurred.

His tractor had been “severely bogged” near a dam and it appeared he stepped off it before having a medical episode, Mr Bright said.

He said the neighbour had been trying to contact the man regarding work on his farm and attended the private property.

Emergency services rushed to Hilary Road after receiving a call at 7.15am Tuesday, a Queensland Fire and Emergency spokeswoman said.

Two fire crews remained on standby to assist Queensland Ambulance in extracting the patient from the dam.

He was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a serious but stable condition for further assessment.

Originally published as Man in critical condition after fall into dam at Carters Ridge