The South Nietta beef cattle farmer was put into a medically induced coma after being pinned under a tractor for six hours.

He was flown to the Launceston General Hospital in the Westpac Rescue helicopter and was rushed into surgery where his leg had to be cut to allow it to drain.

Nearly two weeks later, Mr Murfet, who grew up in Launceston, is recovering in ``leaps and bounds'', according to his family.

He is still in the intensive care unit but he is awake and becoming healthier every day.

Medical staff were expecting to finish sewing up his leg this weekend.

''His improvements have been remarkable,'' Mr Murfet's son, Peter, said.

''There's no word on when he'll be able to leave the ICU but we think we're over the worst of it, although we're not quite out of the woods yet.''

On February 2, Mr Murfet was working at his North-West farm, as he did just about every day for the past 57 years.

''He got off the tractor and he was putting some wood and stuff on the back of it then it just started to creep,'' Peter said.

''He tried to get back on but, being 90, it just caught the back of his foot and dragged him under.

''It happens so easily. He just made a mistake, the poor fellow and he's paying for it now.

''He was as fit as fit to get through it.''

Mr Murfet has been a farmer his whole life and was used to working long hours, seven days a week.

''He did have about 700 or 800 acres but he's gradually sold it off - he's down to about 250 acres now,'' Peter said.

''He can't wait to get back out there. He's telling us where the cattle are already and this tractor's got no fuel in it and that one has. He's still right up there with all that.''

Mr Murfet's wife has been taking care of the basics at the farm and their children have been making sure everything else is OK.

''But he had everything organised anyway,'' Peter said.

''The cattle have the run of the farm virtually and they've got plenty of water.

''We want to say a huge thanks to Brian and Chris - the surgeon and anaesthetist - and all the medical team,'' he said.

''They've all done an absolutely great job, the hospital staff have all been amazing and dad owes his life to them.''