World

Carpenters Use Dress and Tape to Stop Bleeding After 93‑Year‑Old Falls in Gracemere

By TOI World Desk

On Monday, November 2, 2026, a 93‑year‑old man named Ian Barton fell in his backyard in Gracemere, Queensland, while carrying a bowl of porridge. The bowl shattered and a fragment cut an artery in his wrist, causing heavy bleeding. The incident occurred shortly before 8 a.m. in a quiet cul‑de‑sac near Rockhampton.

Carpenter Josh Sander and his apprentice Gary Tunbridge were working on a pergola at a nearby property when they heard a woman screaming for help from across the street. The woman was Joy Barton, 89, who had seen her husband fall. The two men stopped their work and rushed to the Barton home. They found Ian lying on his back patio, surrounded by blood.

Sander first tried to control the bleeding by wrapping a tea towel tightly around the wrist, but the blood loss continued. He then asked Tunbridge to fetch adhesive tape from their work truck. Inside the house, they located one of Joy’s dresses and used the fabric to wrap the wound. Tunbridge secured the dressing with the tape, and the pair maintained pressure on the injury while waiting for emergency services.

The men stayed with Barton for about 40 minutes before paramedics arrived. During that time, Barton repeatedly appeared to fade, and at one point he seemed to choke. Tunbridge removed false teeth that were lodged in his mouth, helping keep his airway clear.

The Queensland Ambulance Service responded as quickly as possible, despite high demand in the area. Barton was transported to Rockhampton Hospital, where he underwent surgery on the afternoon of the incident and remained in stable condition.

Joy Barton expressed deep gratitude to Sander and Tunbridge, saying she believed they saved her husband’s life. She described them as heroes and noted that the couple had been married for more than six decades. Their granddaughter posted a thank‑you message on social media the following day, which helped bring attention to the men’s actions.

Gary Tunbridge had begun his carpentry apprenticeship only four months earlier. After the incident, he joked that he had no immediate plans to change careers, while Sander considered taking a refresher first‑aid course. The two men were relieved that Barton was recovering and praised each other for their quick response.

The incident highlighted the importance of immediate first‑aid measures and community help in life‑threatening emergencies.