Farmer loses leg in tractor accident

An elderly farmer has had his leg amputated following a tractor accident in Southland at the weekend.

John Rabbitt, 70, was working on a Merrivale farm, 15km from Otautau, when a set of cultivation discs was towed over him about 11am on Saturday, the Southland Times reported.

Emergency services spent more than two hours freeing Mr Rabbitt from under the tractor discs, which weighed several tonnes, before he was airlifted to Southland Hospital.

He had extensive surgery on Saturday and was in a serious but stable condition in the hospital's intensive care unit.

His son, Eddie, said he had visited his father yesterday and that ,while he was groggy from the amputation surgery, he was in good spirits.

Constable Mark Wishart said it appeared the accident happened when Mr Rabbitt heard the tractor pull up and went to help the driver. Somehow he became trapped after he went to release a safety chain that was still coupled to the tractor.

Mr Wishart said he thought Mr Rabbitt had the mettle to get through the ordeal.

"He's a tough old farmer."

- NZPA