Carpenters halt work to apply improvised tourniquet on 93‑year‑old in Gracemere

At about 8 a.m. on Monday, carpenter Josh Sander and his apprentice Gary Tunbridge were preparing to work on a pergola in a quiet cul‑de‑sac in Gracemere, central Queensland, when they heard a woman shouting from across the road. The pair rushed to the scene and found 93‑year‑old Ian Barton lying on his back patio, bleeding heavily from a wrist wound that had been caused when he tripped on a small ramp and fell onto a bowl of porridge.

Sander described the injury as an arterial cut, noting that the blood loss was rapid. He first wrapped the wound with a tea towel, but the bleeding continued. He then retrieved a dress from the house and asked Tunbridge to fetch adhesive tape from their work truck. Together they applied the dress and tightly wrapped the tape around the wrist, creating an improvised tourniquet that slowed the flow of blood.

During the emergency, Barton lost consciousness several times. The two men revived him each time by gently shaking him and speaking loudly. When they observed that Barton was choking, Tunbridge discovered a set of false teeth lodged in his mouth and removed them to restore his airway. The carpenters maintained pressure on the wound and monitored Barton while waiting for emergency services.

An ambulance arrived roughly 40 minutes after the incident. Paramedics took over care and transported Barton to hospital. Sander and Tunbridge returned to their work site after confirming that Barton was stable. Both men were later described by local media as heroes for their quick response and for using available materials to provide life‑saving first aid.

The incident highlights the importance of basic first‑aid knowledge among tradespeople and the potential impact of immediate, improvised medical assistance in rural communities where professional help may be delayed.