How doctors have managed to save the arm of wedding dressmaker who lost both legs in farm accident

Doctors have managed to save the arm of the wedding dressmaker who lost both her legs in a horrific farm mowing accident in rural Queensland.

Claire McKenzie, 61, remains in hospital in an induced coma but her family is hopeful she will be woken later this week, saying there’s no sign of infection so far.

Ms McKenzie had saved her own life by calling 000 after suffering catastrophic injuries on Thursday when she was thrown under a tractor and slasher at Ballandean, about 240km southwest of Brisbane on the Queensland-NSW border. 

Daughter Hana McKenzie paid tribute to her mother’s fortitude in a moving statement to Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday.

‘Her strength and courage is beyond anything we can imagine,’ Hana said.

‘Doctors have managed to save her arm at this stage.

‘It was severely damaged but… all signs are positive, (however) there is always risk of infection.

‘She has undergone multiple surgeries on her legs and arm, (and is) still being kept asleep and sedated.

‘We expect her to be woken up late this week or next week pending surgeries.’

Hana expressed her heartfelt thanks to emergency services and medical staff, as well as Granite Belt community members, friends and others to had offered support.

Claire McKenzie’s daughter Hana (pictured) has released a moving tribute to her mum, saying ‘her strength and courage is beyond anything we can imagine’ and saying despite her arm being ‘severely damaged but… all signs are positive’

The 61-year-old was mowing ahead of the bushfire season three years after fires engulfed the tiny town forcing evacuation, but was catastrophically injured when she fell under the slasher

‘(Thanks to) Kylie for setting up the GoFundMe page. Hayley and Debbie for setting up a donation and gift drop-off point. Local businesses and the many individuals who have offered to help and donate their time and services,’ Hana said. 

‘The immense support and love we have received so far has truly been overwhelming, and we thank each and everyone of you who has reached out.’ 

Dasha McKenzie also posted a loving note for ‘my beautiful mother-in-law’.

‘The support shown by our family, friends and throughout the community is beyond any words we can express,’ Dasha said.

‘Your thoughts and prayers towards Claire’s recovery are greatly appreciated. 

‘If you are in a position to help financially, donations of all sizes are appreciated, please refer to the Go Fund Me page.’

Hana Mckenzie said her mother (pictured) is a ‘much loved member of the communities in Queensland’s Granite Belt region as wll as being ‘a talented bridal alterations specialist who loves animals, nature and helping people wherever she can’ 

Claire McKenzie operated fashion and couture business in Victoria and Brisbane before purchasing her house (above) on a 50 hectare property in historic Ballandean, home of Queensland’s founding wine industry

The 61-year-old designer and bridal alterations specialist may be woken up in hospital later this week and doctors hope encouraging signs of no infection will boost their hopes of successfully saving Claire’s arm

Claire McKenzie had bought the tractor and slasher to keep her 50 hectare Ballandean property safe during bushfire season. 

Bushfires tore through the region in 2019, when the tiny town had to be evacuated. 

The Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council has now predicted an ‘above normal fire potential’ risk for the area.

Ms McKenzie bought the property in 2016 after moving to Queensland from Victoria. 

Hana said her mother had become ‘a much-loved member of the Ballandean and wider communities’, which included Stanthorpe and Tenterfield.

Hana said her mum is ‘a talented bridal alterations specialist who loves animals, nature and helping people wherever she can’.

Ms McKenzie lived alone on the property, where she was slashing undergrowth at the time of her accident. 

She had developed gardens and continued her bridal business in the local area via the online handmade and craft site Etsy.

Stanthorpe mum Kylie Beckett, who met Ms McKenzie when she made alterations to her daughter’s debutante ball gown two years ago, described her as a beautiful soul’.

Bridal fashion designer Claire McKenzie (left) was mowing her 50 hectare property in the wine industry town of Ballandean, 240km southwest of Brisbane, when she was thrown from her tractor and the slasher severed three of her limbs

The GoFundMe page Ms Beckett started for Ms McKenzie has so far raised $9493, with one business, the Granite Belt Brewery, and some families each donating $500.

It is hoped the funds raised will help cover the cost of the long recovery and rehabilitation Ms McKenzie is expected to undergo.

‘She’s a lovely lady with a beautiful soul who lives out there by herself,’ Ms Beckett told Daily Mail Australia.

‘How your life can change in a second… My heart goes out to her.

‘Stanthorpe is a great community, it rallies round people. I hope anyone wanting to donate for this cause can help Claire.’

Kylie Beckett (above) met Claire McKenzie two years ago and said she wanted to help ‘the beautiful soul’ by raising money to fund her friend’s ‘very long recovery’ from ‘life changing’ inuries sustained in the tractor accident

Hana expressed gratitude to Ms Beckett and two other friends, Hayley and Debbie ‘for setting up a donation and gift drop-off point’ as well as local businesses and other people for lending a hand.

She also thanked ‘the first responders, all emergency services and Careflight crew who attended the scene, the ICU specialists, doctors, nurses, social workers and reception staff at the PA Hospital’. 

Apart from remarkably dialling emergency services herself after sustaining horrific injuries, Ms McKenzie was also ‘calm’ before being put under anaesthetic for surgery, a nurse told her family. 

Ms McKenzie had been flown via helicopter to the rooftop helipad of Brisbane’s major trauma hospital, Princess Alexandra (PA), following the accident just before midday on Thursday.

QAS spokesman Stephen Johns said he’d ‘never seen or heard of anything like this’.

‘She received significant multiple trauma to her limbs, but was conscious and able to talk to paramedics, who were able to stabilise the lady.

‘It’s just a miracle she had enough sense to be able to get onto that phone really quickly and get that help to her. Otherwise it would be an absolute tragedy.’ 

Two police officers at the scene where bridal designer Claire McKenzie suffered catastrophic injuries when she fell off her tractor and teh slasher ran over her, severing both her legs and severely injuring one arm

Claire McKenzie’s terrible injuries were described as a workplace accident, but Ballandean neighbours said the quiet 61-year-old was merely mowing to reduce bushfire risk

Ms McKenzie had bought the tractor and slasher (pictured) to clear her 50ha property of undergrowth ahead of the bushfire season

Ms McKenzie’s 83-year-old neighbour described her as ‘quiet and a lover of nature’.

Ballandean, which lies on the NSW border south of Stanthorpe, has fewer than 200 residents and is the site of several vineyards in the Southern Downs region.

The biggest is Ballandean Estate Wines – the state’s oldest family-owned winery founded by Angelo Puglisi, who is considered the ‘father of the Queensland wine industry’.

Ms McKenzie had moved to the town after working for three decades making couture and bridal outfits and had started up her Wedding Desire business on Etsy. 

Fashion designer Claire McKenzie was airlifted from the scene and delivered by helicopter to the roof of Brisbane’s major trauma centre, Princess Alexandra Hospital

According to her Etsy and Linkedin profiles, she makes wedding dresses, bridal jewellery, candles and other items, loves vintage style and sells ‘to all parts of Australia, Spain, the US and the UK’.

In her online business websites, Ms McKenzie is described as ‘a coffee lover and fashion enthusiast… a lover of style, creativity and vintage – with over 30 years experience in the bridal industry’.

In an interview with Polkadotwedding.com in 2013, Ms McKenzie said she found inspiration by ‘searching worldwide for ideas.

‘There is an endless stream of ideas available online, and mixing this with my passion for rustic/vintage weddings, at this point, there is no end in sight.’ 

She said her online business to making and selling handmade items was ‘inspired by my son’s country wedding, set for 2014.

‘(I) decided to open my Etsy store with just a few items…then it just grew, many ideas started flowing into my head and in my spare time I would create them.’ 

‘GoFundMe – To Help Claire McKenzie’ is online here.