Farmer, 95, pulled out alive after getting buried in mud for two days dies in hospital
QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA: A 95-year-old farmer from Queensland has died after being stuck in mud for two days after falling from his bogged tractor. The body of Tom Killen was found on his Carters Ridge property in south-east Queensland by a friend who did not hear from him for two days, as reported by ABC. The old man was reportedly pulled out alive by that friend.
It was reported that Killen was working near a dam at his property at Carters Ridge, south of Gympie in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, when the incident took place. According to Mirror, the man got trapped in the mud around midday on Sunday, November 6. The friend apparently went to look for him after the farmer did not return any calls. "(He is) probably one of the toughest people I've seen at that age... even ambos and police were commenting on how resilient he is, a tough old bloke," the friend said, as per the outlet.
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Tom Killen was a #farmer who survived more than two days trapped in mud after coming off his tractor has died in hospital.#TomKillen#TomKillenDied#Queenslandhttps://t.co/IVhteLzzk5
— Its Wikipedia (@its_wikipedia) November 14, 2022
Medical help arrived at 7 am on Tuesday, November 8, where Killen was discovered, wrapped in mud from "head-to-toe." "The tractor was bogged quite severely next to a dam," said ambulance operations supervisor Shaun Bright, as per The Leader.
The supervisor also confirmed that Killen was suffering from suspected hypothermia and severe dehydration at that time. "He's a very tough gentleman. When we got there, the gentleman was suffering from suspected hypothermia and severe dehydration," he continued. "It appears that the gentleman has tried to step off the tractor and has had some sort of medical episode which has left him out in the weather for several days."
Neighbour Simon Martin suspects Killen was likely to be investigating an irrigation leak on his property during the time of the accident. "Apparently there was a water leak in the irrigation pipes … so he must have ventured up [there] and it got too hard for him. All older people deserve better. There's not enough care for them," he stated, according to ABC.
The elderly farmer was taken by ambulance in crucial condition to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital which is about an hour's drive away. Killen was treated in the hospital for several days but authorities confirmed on Monday, November 14, that he died over the weekend. The news outlet confirmed that the police are preparing a report for the coroner.
