Man tumbles off horse during cattle mustering in Queensland

A man tumbled off a horse while mustering cattle in south-east Queensland, sustaining injuries that required aeromedical evacuation.

The LifeFlight rescue helicopter was dispatched to the North Burnett region on Thursday morning after news of the incident reached emergency services.

Rescue crews landed the chopper in a nearby paddock, with LifeFlight medical personnel transported directly to the patient's location.

Aeromedical teams and local ambulance paramedics attended to him before he was carried back to the aircraft for transfer.

The man, in his 60s, was flown to Bundaberg Hospital with injuries to his shoulder and chest.

A Pattern of Mustering Incidents Across Queensland

This latest event echoes a string of similar reports emerging from rural Queensland properties in recent months. Falls sustained while working with livestock remain a persistent hazard for agricultural workers across regional Australia.

Recent coverage of comparable events includes a report of a man thrown from horse while mustering cattle in central Queensland, plus another instance where a worker was flown to hospital after falling off horse in south-west Queensland. A further account details a man who crashed his farm bike while mustering cattle in south-east Queensland.

Why Mustering-Related Injuries Keep Making Headlines

Cattle work carries inherent risk, particularly when livestock become unpredictable during mustering operations. Sudden movements, uneven terrain, and long hours in isolated paddocks all contribute to the frequency of these injury reports.

Given the remote nature of many properties, rapid response from services such as LifeFlight becomes critical. Delays in treatment for shoulder, chest, or spinal injuries can significantly affect recovery outcomes for injured workers.

Reducing Risk on Cattle Properties

Employers and station managers can lower the likelihood of similar incidents by implementing structured safety documentation and training protocols. Practical measures include:

• Establishing clear procedures for livestock handling, particularly during high-risk mustering periods
• Ensuring workers have appropriate protective equipment before engaging with cattle
• Maintaining reliable communication systems for isolated work areas
• Reviewing and updating safe work method statements regularly

SafetyDocs offers targeted resources, including an Animal Management - Horseback Mustering SWMS, designed to help operations formalise safety procedures for horseback livestock work. For broader cattle handling tasks, the Loading & Unloading Cattle SWMS provides additional guidance for reducing workplace hazards.

Read the original news article here.