Farmworker hospitalised after being crushed by hay bale

A farmworker was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries after being crushed by a falling hay bale.

The man, aged in his 30s, suffered injuries to his leg and back after a bale fell on top of one of his legs from a tractor.

Emergency crews were called to Marcassie Farm, Rafford, Morayshire, at 3.40pm on Wednesday (9 September). They found the man lying trapped with a hay bale on top of him.

See also: Man dies after being trampled by cattle on Lancashire farm

Paramedics called the fire service for help to remove the bale and two fire engines were sent from Elgin Fire Station.

In a delicate operation, ten firefighters took 40 minutes to remove the bale from the man’s body.

He was then airlifted to hospital for treatment for non-life threatening injuries to his leg and back.

A spokesman for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 3.50pm on Wednesday, we received a call from the ambulance service.

“They did not have the manpower to remove the bale from the victim. We sent two appliances from Elgin.

“Crews manually removed the bale to free the man, who was then flown by air ambulance to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness for treatment.

“He suffered some sort of crush injuries, which were not life-threatening.”