Tractor collector dies as vintage machine flips

A collector of vintage tractors has died after he was crushed in a tractor accident.

Invercargill man Geoffrey Thomas Mills, 50, died at the scene of the accident on a farm in Vickerman St, near Blenheim, just after midday yesterday.

Mr Mills was on the farm to pick up the 1942 Farmall A tractor he had bought from farmer Richard Jones, several weeks ago.

Mr Mills was loading the tractor on to a truck with the help of another man at about 12.10pm when the front end of the tractor lifted up and flipped back over, pinning Mr Mills beneath it.

Police, fire and ambulance staff were called to the scene and freed Mr Mills from beneath the tractor.

Detective Constable Dean Schroder of Blenheim CIB said Mr Mills was alive for a short time after the accident, but died from his injuries before he could be taken to hospital.

Ambulance staff performed CPR on Mr Mills for about half an hour, but could not revive him.

ACC injury prevention consultant Mark Preston-Thomas said a fatal accident occurred on farms around New Zealand every three weeks.

"Farms are dangerous places and the number of accidents that happen on them is of great concern for us."

- nzpa