Edgar Fagg was last night in a stable condition at the Royal Melbourne Hospital after undergoing surgery to his right ankle.

Senior Constable Alex McCann, from Gordon Police, said Mr Fagg was working on his property near Pykes Creek when the accident occurred on Tuesday afternoon.

He said Mr Fagg stepped off his tractor to attend to a sheep when the tractor rolled forward, running over his right ankle and pinning him to the ground.

Mr Fagg spent six hours stuck underneath the tractor before he was discovered by his concerned daughter.

Sen Const McCann said his faithful dog was still by his side.

"It appears that he stepped off the tractor to attend to a ewe when the tractor suddenly rolled forward, running over his foot and ankle," Sen Const McCann said.

"He was last seen at about midday on Tuesday heading out to the paddock but his daughter only discovered him missing when she arrived home from Ballarat about 6pm.

"She found him underneath the tractor a short time later with his dog still by his side.

"Thankfully, he turned the tractor off before it rolled forward and his daughter has managed to start it up again and move it backwards off his leg."

Sen Con McCann said it was fortunate that weather conditions were favourable at the time.

"Being a farmer, he's had the good sense to take refuge under the tractor to escape the elements," Sen Const McCann said.

"By the time I arrived at the property, he was quite disorientated and obviously still in a great deal of pain."

Neighbour Vic Brown said Mr Fagg was a well known character in the area. "I haven't heard about the accident but I obviously wish him all the best in his recovery," Mr Brown said.