Leading Sen-Constable John Kissane, of Mitta police, said the tractor Dr Andrews was driving on Tuesday weighed about six tonnes. It flipped at least twice when it overturned on the Talladoon property on the Omeo Highway.

Sen-Constable Kissane said Dr Andrews had been trying to remove a 500 kilogram dead cow from a hill when the tractor lost traction, pushing it towards an embankment.

He said the tractor had rolled through a wire fence and landed on its side.

“The cow must have got caught in a fence and he’s tried to lift it higher. The forks were fully extended,” Sen-Constable Kissane said.

“It’s a little tractor, not a tractor for this type of country.”

Sen-Constable Kissane said Dr Andrews was not wearing a seatbelt. He suffered severe bruising but was not crushed.

“He crawled out and stood up. His wife was watching. She was on a motorbike,” he said.

“She’s gone for help, when she came back, he was dead.

“He just collapsed where he stood next to the tractor.”

Sen-Constable Kissane said the tractor was stuck in reverse. It was removed from the property early yesterday for examination.

“He was in reverse at the time, but the tractor has gone forward. It’s rolled while he was trying to reverse. It’s dropped the cow and he’s continued to roll down the hill,” he said.

A WorkSafe inspector examined the scene yesterday.

Health and safety director Ian Forsyth urged farmers to follow basic safety rules after the spate of deaths.

“If you’re operating heavy vehicles, you must follow basic safety rules,” he said.

“Properly fitted and maintained seatbelts and rollover protection greatly increases the chances of survival.

“Make sure your vehicle is the most suitable for the task.

Mr Forsyth said a man had fallen from a quad bike and died at Forrest, near Colac, and a woman had fallen off a mower at Marysville, on Saturday.

A Towong woman, 58, died after being hit by a tractor on a Murray Valley Highway farm on October 27.

WorkSafe said a report on Dr Andrews’ death would be prepared for the coroner.