A WOMAN farmer from Exbourne is full of praise this week, after a BT engineer came to the rescue and saved her life.

Violet Prince, aged 83, who farms her flock of Dorset sheep and some goats at Tor View Farm in Exbourne, was attacked by a ram and left helpless. Her relatives said she might have died if it was not for the fortunate intervention of a passing BT van and its crew, which was working in the area.

What made the incident even more remarkable was that the it was only by chance that the BT van, with three engineers on board, turned into her gateway to let another car pass. The engineers were working on nearby overhead cables.

One of the men heard Violet's cries and went to find out what was happening and fortunately found her. They gave her a jacket and kept her warm and phoned through for an ambulance. The three stayed with her and kept reassuring her until a paramedic came.

However, mystery surrounds the chivalrous engineers who came to the rescue as BT has, at yet, been unable to track them down.

Her sister Joan Bevis, who lives in Shebbear, said she was very grateful to the BT engineers for saving Violet's life.

She said: 'Nobody walks by that road and any cars passing just go straight on. It was so fortunate that the BT van stopped in her driveway to let another vehicle pass.

'She doesn't know how lucky she is. The engineer that found her saved her life.

'What really impressed me was that they came back in the next couple of days to see her how Violet was getting on when she was taken to hospital.'

'The quick action of this unknown engineer saved her life as she was in a remote area and unlikely tto be heard. This engineer and his colleagues are a real credit to BT and we would have liked to thank them. They certainly deserve some recognition.'

Her sentiments were echoed by Joan's husband Joe, their daughter Marion and Violet's brother Albert Prince.

Violet herself is now recuperating with a new, replacement hip and is on crutches, but she is extremely grateful to the BT men for their actions.

'They were as good as gold, I couldn't have wished for better care and attention. I remember I was tending to the sheep and putting in their ear tags. I went out to open the gate and suddenly I was hit by the ram and he hit me hard.

'I was just lying there, nobody could see me over the gate and because of my broken hip I couldn't even crawl. It was very painful. I shouted and shouted but nobody came for ages. Then I saw the BT man and waved my crook — I was just thankful to see someone.'

'The men put me in a jacket and gave me something to sit on and stayed with me until the paramedic arrive. He was brilliant as well and everybody stayed until an ambulance arrived.'

Violet was taken to Devon and Exeter Hospital in Exeter and had a hip replacement —she was allowed to go home on Friday and is now convalescing.

Jason Mann, a spokesman for BT, told the Times: 'We are delighted that our engineers showed such a caring attitude and were able to help this lady at a time of great distress.'