WRECKERS YARD: 12 hours on the clock and Massey Ferguson 6470 tractor finds new home in stream

On his first ever outing with his new Massey Ferguson 6470 tractor, the driver was hoping to get a few acres ploughed but fate – and bit a bit of bad luck – conspired against him.

Working in St Ouens on Jersey, he was ploughing his headland rounds and reversed too close to the bank. The tractor began to slip and he jumped ship, leaving it to run backwards down the 15-20ft slope and turn turtle in the stream.

With just 12 hours on the clock, the cab of the stricken 6470 settled into the water.

The local fire brigade quickly installed an inflatable plastic sausage to contain diesel leaking from the tractor and spread absorbent sheets on the surface of the stream.

A digger was called in to dig away some of the bank and lift the tractor back on its wheels.

At this stage the only damage was to the cab and nearside wheelarch. But as the recovery process got underway – using the cab as a hoisting point – more damage was done.

Thanks to Steven Baudains for sending these pictures in. If you’ve captured any amusing machinery mishaps on camera, send them in to fwmachinery@rbi.co.uk