I hope I can prevent this from happening to other operators.

[mike69440]

May 20 2025 but for the grace of God should have been the date in my gravestone. I did everything that you would do to win a Darwin award.
Alone, this 70 year old fudd takes the TLB into the woods to harvest a few trees for firewood. Did not wear protective gear as usual. I also did a bit ot backhoe work.
I carried out 3 bucket loads of wood, and decided I would back the BH to the edge of a 12 to 15' rocky embankment to bang around the hoe to shake off all the dirt.
I set the bucket the in crushed stone. I did not set the brake or lower the stabilizers. I was off the machine and was done cleaning the machine, about to put in the equipment building and get lunch.
The tractor started to roll backwards over the embankment. At that point I could have just grabbed the forward reverser lever, or just let her go. Foolishly I reached across the floorboard and unsuccessfully tried to push the brakes.
I was dragged with the tractor down the steep rocky embankment covered with dirt, leaves and dog feces from the kennel
I sort of slow motion, the tractor front tire rolled over my left calf, dragging me along in it's decent.
Hand the rear wheel rolled over me or the toothed bucket caught me , I would have been smushed lifeless.
Calf was crushed. Multiple compound fractures bone piercing the bloody flesh.
I screamed for help. Fortunately my wife was in barn, and called for the EMT's. The thought of laying at the bottom of that gully bleeding out without anyone hearing my crys for help, sends shivers down my spine.
The EMT's did a great job getting to me to the trauma center 35 minutes away.
I was dehydrated in shock, bleeding and otherwise beat up all over.
My platoon of guardian angels prevented my knee and ankle from being destroyed, thus the surgical team was able to install at least a 1/2 pound of titanium to reconstruct what was left of my calf, as there was enough bone left to attach the titanium bones to the joints. I have nerve damage, especially my big toe.
There is no need to comment how stupid, careless, and lucky to be alive I am.
I know PTSD well now. Thanking God for another chance
At some point I need to publish my 7 rules of gun safety also.

 

[jyoutz]

Wow. What an experience. Glad that you made it and can tell the story.

 

[FullMetalBucket]

That’s quite the ordeal. Glad you were able to post about it. Heal up and I for one am not going to cast stones. Been through a few holy carp situations myself I could have avoided but got caught up in the moment.

 

[rumwrks]

Yikes! Glad you made it through that one at all! Grim as it was it sure could've been a lot worse.

Some years ago we had had a slushy snow right before we got home from a long drive. The hot tires on the suv melted the snow .. then it refroze under them forming a slick ice sheet. The car started sliding at a pretty good clip down the hill from the house. LOML said "DO SOMETHING" and I said "I AM, I'm getting the H**L out of the road!!". Sometimes getting out of the way really is the best thing to do. Luckily the car stopped after a bit but there was no way I could've done anything anyway (except parking on the flat until I'd cleared the snow).

Having said that, it sure is easy to get caught up in the moment and do exactly what you shouldn't do as well and have my fair share of those as well.

 

[dstig1]

Oh wow. Best wishes that you will heal up to get you back to normal, but not likely that you will fully recover to like new from something that bad. heck, even at 21 I ripped my knee and it never fully recovered, so at 70 it will be much tougher. Good luck and hope the docs can help.

 

[CalG]

It's an all too familiar experience.

Crap goes sideways, there are useful, though aggressive response options.

But the mind says "STOP!, Grab the brakes! Make things STOP"!

That is why ABS is a thing on cars.

We can't help ourselves.

Heal well!

 

[mllud]

We use our huge heavy tools every day and can get complacent in respecting the size, weight and power of these machines. I see more accidents like this online than any other type.
Let the tractor go, it's not worth your life or limbs.

mike69440​

Get well and thanks for giving us a wakeup call, I will climb on my machinery today thinking about your accident and hopefully don't ever forget.

This is the second recent accident with a forum member or friend being dragged and ran over trying to stop a rolling tractor.
Everyone take care

 

[Hoobie]

Wow!
I have my own list of stupid stunts but not the courage to tell them.
Glad you were not hurt worse.

 

[RjCorazza]

Wow. So glad you weren't hurt worse, but certainly sounds serious as it is.
Wishing you a full recovery

 

[Thomas]

Dang glad your still making.

 

[lman]

Wow, that's gonna slow you down. Hopefully the better half can cover for you for a while. Every time I read something like this, I think that I have been blessed with no serious issues but my day is coming.

 

[BackRoad]

Godspeed on your recovery...

 

[groundcover]

Yikes! Glad you're still on this side to tell the tale ! TBN is quite the resource for these close calls to act as a warning to us all ! We should have a way to reach out to the members closest in a case like this to help out while a brother is down and out ! Get well soon !

 

[square1]

The end of our "shift" is the most dangerous I think
Glad you here to tell your tale. Heal well

 

[D&D]

Thanking God for another chance
At some point I need to publish my 7 rules of gun safety also

Quite the story, here's hoping for a quick recovery back to normal.

How did your tlb make out?

 

[dodge man]

I hope you heal quickly, glad your here to tell us your story.

 

[mike69440]

Quite the story, here's hoping for a quick recovery back to normal.

How did your tlb make out?

It is a modified 2005 Kubota L39. Other than a weak front axle, it punches to a utility tractor level. The motor is turned up to 45 hp, it is reinforced and ballasted to over 4 tons. I have installed larger loader cylinders and hydraulics that run at 3000 PSI.

So the tractor was sitting at the bottom of the embankment, bucket pointing to the sky, while the back hoe was buried in Some 4-7" trees. My wife told me my son in law got in the tractor, and fully extended the stabilizers and anchored the bucket. He used the hoe to rip out the trees. He then used the bucket, stabilizers and hoe the get the tractor off the embankment. He worked the tractor through the woods, knocking down whatever small trees that were in the way and parked it in the equipment building. I need to check the lights and hoses, but their seems no damage!
I wish I just let it roll away, and got away from the machine.
This winter my stepson slid off the road plowing snow into a drainage ditch and must of paid attention watching me use the hoe and stabilizers to extracate the machine.
Has anyone ever watched the JCB YouTube videos of the dancing backhoes? I have moved my backhoe over walls. Don't try this at home.

 

[bigtiller]

OUCH, that's a heavy load, and I imagine a long time healing.

Did you do anything special on your "anniversary" May 20?

 

[mike69440]

OUCH, that's a heavy load, and I imagine a long time healing.

Did you do anything special on your "anniversary" May 20?

No but I will visit my parents and brothers grave soon.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Hope you heal up quickly, thankfully the lord isn't through with you on this earth and it wasn't your time.