‘IT WASN’T MY TIME’
Teen meets his rescuers after farming accident
A YOUNG Toowoomba man has been reunited with the team of first responders who saved his life after a farming accident last May.
Ned Desbrow was working on a Tara property when he became trapped in a winch.
Emergency services personnel worked for hours to free him, but his leg had to be amputated at the scene.
“I remember saying to my mum and brother that I wasn’t going to die, this wasn’t my time,” he said.
Yesterday, he thanked the team for making the “tough decisions”.
alexia.austin@thechronicle.com.au
TOOWOOMBA teen Ned Desbrow was shocked when he first learned of the doctors’ plan to amputate his leg.
It was May 9, 2019, and the day had started like any other, as he worked to remove tree trunks from a property in Tara.
After encountering issues with a winch, Mr Desbrow decided to redirect it.
However, his foot became tangled in the line and his leg was pulled into the machine.
“It felt like a dream, it was that extreme it didn’t feel like it was real,” Mr Desbrow said.
“I remember saying to my mum and brother that I wasn’t going to die, this wasn’t my time.”
Two RACQ LifeFlight Rescue aeromedical crews, Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics, Queensland Fire and Emergency Service firefighters and local medical professionals were urgently called to property.
“When we got to the scene, it was nothing we could have imagined,” RACQ LifeFlight Rescue critical care doctor Martin Londahl said.
“It was apparent from the start the leg would have to be amputated.
“That was easy as there were no other options. The hard part was how to do it and make him survive. I thought he wouldn’t make it.”
Dr Londahl and the team prepared for the surgery, knowing they would have one shot at success.
“We got everything set up and then optimised it as much as we could to give him the best shot,” he said.
“We succeeded and it was absolutely amazing, the result of really good teamwork.” Mr Desbrow woke in hospital the following day.
“I was alive and breathing and that’s all I could have asked for,” he said.
“It was tough at the time but we fought for something. All of those people are the reason I’m here today.”
Yesterday, Mr Desbrow was reunited with his rescuers at the Toowoomba RACQ LifeFlight Rescue base.
“There are so many people to thank. I couldn’t have gotten through it myself, so
I’m grateful,” Mr said.
“It’s wonderful to see Ned back. He has had a remarkable recovery,” Queensland Ambulance Service flight paramedic Peter Scullett-Dean said.
“None of us can believe how well he looks with a big smile on his face and a positive attitude. When people come back and say thank you, it’s very satisfying.”
Eight months on, Mr Desbrow is back riding his motorbike and has started a clothing line, Funky G’s.
Desbrow