A volunteer firefighter from the NSW Rural Fire Service is recovering at home after a frightening incident during a bushfire operation in the Hunter Valley over the weekend.
Incident Details at Hollydeen Fire
The man, aged in his 40s, was actively fighting a bushfire on Wybong Road at Hollydeen, approximately 31 kilometres west of Muswellbrook, on Saturday, December 28, 2025. During the intense firefighting efforts, a stick became lodged adjacent to one of his eyes in a serious but narrowly avoided injury.
The stick did not pierce the eyeball itself, potentially saving the firefighter's vision. Emergency services were immediately alerted to the scene.
Emergency Response and Hospital Treatment
NSW Ambulance paramedics attended and initially transported the injured volunteer to Denman. Due to the nature of the injury, he was then airlifted by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter's critical care medical team to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital.
He arrived at the hospital in a stable condition. A spokesperson for the NSW RFS confirmed the firefighter underwent surgery to successfully remove the foreign object. He was released from hospital on Saturday night and is reported to be in good spirits following the ordeal.
Status of the Hollydeen Bushfire
Meanwhile, the fire that led to the incident continues to burn. The Hollydeen fire has so far burnt through six hectares of remote bushland and is listed as being controlled by authorities.
On Sunday, an RFS spokesperson indicated that firefighting strategies were still being assessed, with the potential deployment of large air tankers to help establish containment lines around the blaze.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable dangers faced by volunteer firefighters across New South Wales, especially during the heightened bushfire risk period.
