Salvatore ‘Sam’ Testa’s one wish for his 61st birthday was to thank the incredible first responders who saved his life, enabling him to celebrate another year with his family and friends, as Nadia Othman reports...
In March this year, Sam was on a tractor with a slasher at his parent’s place at Jimboomba doing some routine yard work.
Unfortunately, he didn't see a tree stump hidden in the grass until it was too late.
When the front right tractor tyre hit the stump, it threw him out of the seat, straight under the rear left tyre.
The slasher's rotating blade removed his right foot and lower leg.
The slasher’s “skid” attachment rolled him over and the rotating blades cut into his buttocks.
The tractor remained in gear and kept moving for about 70 metres until it hit a tree. Triple Zero (000) was called and Sam’s family was called out of the house.
Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD), Tegan Gillman [Southport Operations Centre], said Sam’s son Frank showed immense bravery in a horrifying situation as she talked him through using Sam's belt as a tourniquet to stem the bleeding from his injured leg – a crucial step that helped save Sam’s life.
First to arrive on scene were paramedics Chelsey Orr and Eseta Reupena [Woodridge Station], alongside Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) Brendon Leech [Nathan Station], followed by Senior Operations Supervisor (SOS) Harry Beyne [Brisbane Operations Centre] and High Acuity Response Unit clinician Rachael Lucas [Kedron Park Station].
Despite his intense pain and the trauma he’d just experienced, Sam cracked jokes and maintained a positive attitude while the teams worked on him. He shared with Eseta and Chelsey that he felt his humorous outlook on life had aided him in his recovery’s success.
Sam was rushed Code 1 to the Princess Alexandra Hospital for immediate surgery, with additional surgeries in the following months before being moved to Logan Hospital for rehabilitation.
Flash forward to 25 July on a crisp morning at Woodridge Station, Chelsey and Eseta came face to face with still-jovial Sam and Frank once again.
The father-and-son duo also met the voice from the other end of the phone, EMD Tegan.
Now in a wheelchair with a stump where his right leg used to be, Sam chalks his successful outcome down to a loving and supportive family, a ‘glass half-full' attitude and immense gratitude to the extensive medical teams who got him to the place where he is today.
“It’s not how I thought I would be celebrating 61-years of age, or how I would be entering my retirement era, but it could have been a lot worse,” Sam said.
“I'm very lucky to be here.”
Cooking Sam and Frank a breakfast of eggs-on-toast, Chelsey and Eseta told them they’d been thinking of Sam over the months since his accident, wondering how he was going.
“His amputated leg was already a major concern, but when we turned Sam over and saw his backside injury, we weren’t sure if he would make it,” Chelsey said.
It’s amazing to see him doing so well since the accident, still with the bright, positive attitude he managed to show us on the day as well.”
The QAS team chatted with Sam and Frank for hours like old friends and enjoyed a birthday cake.
Sam also discussed with the QAS team about how his future was going to look a little different.
Although everyday tasks proved to be more challenging, Sam said he wouldn’t let his life pass him by.
He said he was still getting out-and-about with his dog Millie and has continuing to tap into his lifelong love for cars, a passion he shares with Frank.
Sam also told the team he was looking forward to getting a prosthetic leg in and celebrating his beloved son’s soon-to-be wedding.
