The Colleton County Fire Department says firefighters rescued a 94-year-old man after he accidentally overturned a tractor while mowing his grass in the town of Smoaks.First responders say the man was trapped under his tractor after the piece of equipment rolled down an embankment shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday.Firefighters say they were dispatched to the 100 block of South Carolina Highway 217 in Smoaks where friends and family directed them approximately 900 feet along the dike to the where the tractor was located.They say the man was working alone, mowing grass on a dike surrounding a large pond when the tractor apparently got too close to the edge and overturned.First responders say the man had a cellphone with him and was able to call for help after the tractor landed at the water’s edge and pinned his leg under the tractor’s side cutter.Firefighters say they used shovels to begin digging under the tractor in an attempt to free the man’s leg.The crews said rescue tools and air bags were deemed inadequate because of all the water and mud around the scene, but equipment was eventually hauled by pickup trucks into the location using a winch rigged to a tree.A backhoe was able to get to the area and first responders say they were able to dig out enough mud to free the man after about 30 minutes.The man was carried out of the field by firefighters and EMS says they transported the victim to Colleton Medical center.Copyright 2020 WCSC. All rights reserved.
The Colleton County Fire Department says firefighters rescued a 94-year-old man after he accidentally overturned a tractor while mowing his grass in the town of Smoaks.
First responders say the man was trapped under his tractor after the piece of equipment rolled down an embankment shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday.
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Firefighters say they were dispatched to the 100 block of South Carolina Highway 217 in Smoaks where friends and family directed them approximately 900 feet along the dike to the where the tractor was located.
They say the man was working alone, mowing grass on a dike surrounding a large pond when the tractor apparently got too close to the edge and overturned.
First responders say the man had a cellphone with him and was able to call for help after the tractor landed at the water’s edge and pinned his leg under the tractor’s side cutter.
Firefighters say they used shovels to begin digging under the tractor in an attempt to free the man’s leg.
The crews said rescue tools and air bags were deemed inadequate because of all the water and mud around the scene, but equipment was eventually hauled by pickup trucks into the location using a winch rigged to a tree.
A backhoe was able to get to the area and first responders say they were able to dig out enough mud to free the man after about 30 minutes.
The man was carried out of the field by firefighters and EMS says they transported the victim to Colleton Medical center.
Copyright 2020 WCSC. All rights reserved.
