Guy Gets Chainsaw Stuck in Neck, Survives

Blade missed tree trimmer's arteries
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 2, 2014 1:48 AM CDT
Guy Gets Chainsaw Stuck in Neck, Survives
Valentine is expected to make a full recovery from this gruesome injury.   (AP Photo/Allegheny Health Network)

A Pennsylvania tree trimmer is incredibly lucky to be alive after an accident that left him with a chainsaw blade embedded in his neck. James Valentine, 21, was pruning trees when the saw kicked back and hit him in the neck, the AP reports. His colleagues removed the motor but left the blade—which missed major arteries but cut into muscle—in place to prevent further blood loss. He is expected to make a full recovery and the trauma surgeon who operated on him says he was about as calm as you could expect a man with a chainsaw in his neck to be.

"He was appropriately upset, but his death was not imminent," the surgeon tells Reuters. "He didn't lose control, he wasn't crying uncontrollably, and he was holding still as best he could." She says it was an encouraging sign that he was still able to speak when he arrived at the hospital and though he was able to provide a brief medical history, "We certainly don't ask him 'How do you feel about having a chainsaw stuck in your neck?'" (More chainsaw stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X