An elderly farmer suffered internal injuries when he was crushed by a mechanical plough yesterday afternoon.

Louis Vella, 79, was reversing the plough when he slipped off it in his fields in Qasam San Pawl, Kerċem, where he lives, shortly after noon. The police said he was rushed to Gozo General Hospital, where he was found to be grievously injured but not critical.

Nevertheless, he was flown to Mater Dei Hospital by a military helicopter for observation.

Inspector Frank Tabone, from the Vittoriosa District Police, is leading the investigation.

Unfortunately, this is a common accident. Three months ago, farmer, Mariano Tabone, 64, was injured when he was crushed by a similar plough after losing control of it and toppling into a field in Żebbuġ, Gozo.

A month later, another farmer was not so lucky. Joseph Scicluna, 84, died when he ended up beneath the blades of a plough in a field in Luqa.