Doctors have miraculously saved the arm of the woman whose legs were severed in a horrific tractor accident last week.
Well-known dressmaker Claire McKenzie was on Thursday mowing grass on her 126 acre property in Ballandean, a rural town in Queensland’s Southern Downs Region, when things went wrong.
The 61-year-old fell from the tractor about 2pm and ended up under its slasher where her legs and arm were severed.
Despite the horrific injuries, Ms McKenzie managed to use her phone to dial triple-0.
Even after being transported to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane via rescue helicopter, Ms McKenzie was miraculously “calm”, a nurse told her family, according to Daily Mail.
It has now been revealed that surgeons have managed to save her arm.
“It was severely damaged but… all signs are positive, [however] there is always risk of infection,” her daughter Hana McKenzie told the publication.
She said her mum was being kept in an induced coma but was expected to be woken later in the week or next week, depending on her surgeries.
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Ms McKenzie remains in the intensive care unit in a critical but stable condition.
Hana shared the tragic news online on Monday and expressed her deep gratitude to those who had rushed to show their support.
“It deeply saddens me to be sharing this with you all – As reported in the news, my mum, Claire McKenzie was involved in a devastating tractor accident on her property in Ballandean QLD. She sustained life-threatening injuries and has tragically lost both of her legs and severely injured one of her arms,” she shared to social media.
“The immense support and love we have received so far has truly been overwhelming, and we thank each and everyone of you who has reached out.”
QAS spokesperson Stephen Johns told 7 News he had “never seen or heard of anything like this”.
“She received significant multiple trauma to her limbs, but was conscious and able to talk to paramedics, who were able to stabilise the lady,” Mr Johns said.
“It’s just a miracle she had enough sense to be able to get onto that phone really quickly and get that help to her. Otherwise it would be an absolute tragedy.”
Kylie Beckett, a good friend of Ms McKenzie, has established a GoFundMe page in support of the “beautiful soul”.
“Claire from Ballandean was in a horrible tractor accident and is in Brisbane PA hospital undergoing surgery for her bad injuries [that] will have a very long recovery,” the page read.
“So thoughts were on getting some help for her if anyone [is] wanting to donate for this cause.”
Ms Beckett told Daily Mail Ms McKenzie lived at the property by herself.
A neighbour described her as a “very quiet person” who took care of the farm and her garden.
The neighbour said Ms McKenzie had purchased the tractor and slasher so she could fireproof her property.
Almost $7500 has been raised in support of her recovery.