Man Cuts off Arm!

Jeff Darby · 1st October 2008, 10:23 PM

Check out this news clip and he calmly walked for help...

FOXNews.com - Man Using Chainsaw Calmly Knocks on Neighbor's Door After Chopping Off His Arm - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News

Eric Frei · 1st October 2008, 11:00 PM

Ouch!

Hey, check out this picture on the Sky News edition!

Quote:

3:33pm UK, Tuesday September 30, 2008

A man who sliced his arm off in a chainsaw accident calmly knocked on his next door neighbour's door and said: "Please help, I've just cut my arm off."

Man had been cutting a tree when the chainsaw slipped

John Stirling is believed to have been cutting a tree when his chainsaw slipped and cut his arm off below the elbow in Telscombe Cliffs, near Brighton, East Sussex.

His neighbour, Steve Francis, told how Mr Stirling turned up on his doorstep after the accident.

"He wasn't screaming, he was as relaxed as can be," the 49-year-old told the Brighton Argus.

"I ran inside to call the ambulance and he sat outside on a stool. I came out and tied his arm up with a belt and towels.

"The ambulance people talked me through it. But through it all he sat there talking away like it was normal.

I didn't realise anything was wrong until I looked down and saw his arm missing.

Steve Francis

"When the ambulance came they put him on a stretcher and asked where the arm was.

"The paramedics were working on him so I went up the road and put it in a plastic Tesco shopping bag.

"I then put it in another bag with frozen pastries in to keep it cold.

"Then I gave the bag to one of the paramedics and they took it to hospital in the ambulance.

"He's a brave man, I'll give him that. I couldn't believe he didn't faint."

Mr Stirling was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton before being transferred to the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, West Sussex.

He underwent 14 hours of specialist emergency surgery to reattach the arm.

A spokesman at the hospital said: "It is early days but we are hopeful it has been a success."

The spokesman added: "He is comfortable and the early indications are that the procedure went well."

Source: Chainsaw Accident Man John Stirling Stays Cool After Chopping Off Arm | Health | Sky News

TrevMcRev · 1st October 2008, 11:41 PM

Mmmmm..... Pastries........

Seriously, Thats full on!

Sean Freeman · 2nd October 2008, 12:46 AM

It never ceases to amaze me the different tolerances each of us has to pain, many years ago when working in a pub in St Albans in the UK there was a farm worker who lost his arm in a pto driven baling machine, he walked 7miles with the arm under his remaining attached limb to a phone to call an ambulance...sadly for him the skills and techniques of micro surgery were not what they are now, he did not get his arm reattached.

Garry Brockley · 2nd October 2008, 07:20 AM

Good old British staunchness, stiff upperlip and all that. its like the monty python Knight sketch off the holy grail all over again "come back here you barstard i'll bite your bloody legs off"
Poor sod he was minding his own business just gardening away then

Eric Frei · 2nd October 2008, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galbee

Good old British staunchness, stiff upperlip and all that.

Good ole Aussie rock makes it sound even better.

YouTube - Stiff Upper Lip - AC/DC

newguy18 · 2nd October 2008, 02:40 PM

Poor guy.At least he didn't panic.What kind of pasteries.

Garry Brockley · 3rd October 2008, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Good ole Aussie rock makes it sound even better.

YouTube - Stiff Upper Lip - AC/DC

Quite easily the best rock band to have every walked the planet

Eric Frei · 3rd October 2008, 08:21 AM

To have been together for 35years and a new album due this month, Black Ice.

AC/DC’s “Black Ice” to Be Released October 20th; Pre-Order Info, Track List Announced : Rolling Stone : Rock and Roll Daily

aprentree · 6th May 2009, 10:59 PM

i wounder how he manadged to do it caught the tip of the bar???
im suprised he stayed calmn i personally wouldnt if i lost half my arm

Apocalypsse · 8th May 2009, 01:24 AM

He was probably in shock, shock causes a whole range of different things.

Eric Frei · 29th January 2010, 10:45 PM

BBC News - 'My reattached arm feels part of me again'

Quote:

My reattached arm feels part of me again

For John Stirling, the touch of a cold door handle or the warmth of a cup of tea are miraculous sensations - something he thought he might never feel properly again after losing his forearm in a circular saw accident 16 months ago.

John slipped while using the chainsaw in the garden of his home in September 2008.

The forearm was completely detached, but he was able to alert a neighbour who wrapped the limb in a bag of frozen pastry, preserving it until surgeons could re-attach it.

John, 60, from Telscombe Cliffs, East Sussex, said his progress since had been phenomenal and he now felt whole again.

"You don't realise when they sew a limb back on that at first it is like having a dead log attached - you can't feel anything," he said.

"It feels incredibly heavy and there is no feeling in it, but now it is back to being a part of me instead of being separate from me and it feels normal again."

John can play snooker again and drive - things that seemed impossible when he was first injured.

His recovery began after 14 hours of surgery at the Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in East Grinstead.

Asit Khandwala, the consultant plastic surgeon who performed the operation, said John's determination and hard work had been the key to his recovery.

"He is doing exceptionally well, and the team here are delighted with his remarkable recovery," he said.

"The speed at which he has regained function in his hands and his independence following such major trauma is due to his hard work and motivation throughout the year, and working so well with our specialist therapists.

"Much credit for his recovery is due to his mental strength and determination to get better. He is an inspiration to other patients."

Fiona Clilverd, specialist occupational therapist at the hospital, agreed that the speed of his recovery was a testament to his hard work.

"John is progressing exceptionally well, far surpassing our expectations of recovery and functional use at this stage.

"Not only is John progressing physically but also mentally.

"He has appeared motivated, determined and wholly focused on his therapy throughout, which we believe will have a major impact on his final outcome."

John said his recovery had been amazing and he had felt his nerves as they grew gradually down the length of his arm.

One of his greatest achievements so far is getting his driving licence back.

"The consultant gave his authority for me to drive about two months ago, but I do drive an automatic car," he said.

"Being able to drive is amazing. After 30 years of driving it is a restriction to be chauffeured around - it is nice to be on the road again.

"I can do a lot more than I could. I can even play snooker, which is certainly a step forward.

"I am exceeding their expectations. Because of my age they did not think the nerves would grow back and that I would get the movement back, but I think they feel as I do now that anything is possible."

John said although his fingers had feeling in them, he could not move them separately.

"The fingers move together - the index finger is slightly separate but it is really early days. I can't play the piano, but then I was never any good.

"I really feel that I am going to have a happy new year. I could not have dreamt that the result was going to be as good as it is.

"If nothing improves further than it has then I am happy with my lot.

"I can open doors and even butter a slice of bread. When I had just one hand, the bread just moved across the work surface. Now I can hold it in place and make my own sandwiches.

"I just think I look forward to 2010 thankful for what I have."

Treeson · 30th January 2010, 03:00 AM

Great outcome for a very serious incident.

Therrin · 30th January 2010, 03:58 AM

Wow!

Yeah, shock + adrenaline can do strange things to different people. Guy's got some serious reserve though. Props to that. Nasty.

I never saw my first up-close chainsaw injury till working as an EMT in the local emergency room. That guy didnt cut his arm off, and wasn't even close to having a "stiff upper lip".

This guy got really lucky!

AWF · 2nd February 2010, 03:55 PM

WOW and what a lucky bloke!

Its never ceases to amaze me how shock and andrenalin can effect different people...

I remember in the early days I had a small accident and apparently on the way to the emergency I received 4 quotes on the mobile and booked 1 job in... dont remember any of it!

tassiesteve · 2nd February 2010, 06:41 PM

15 year ago my uncle a professional tree faller was seriously injured and was medivacced out,after a freakish accident whilst felling a huge tree (the ones that take a week to walk around).
He was hit between the neck and shoulder causing an injury which could have taken his life.his work mates heard the saw stop but common practice,dont go anywhere until you hear that,tree come down .But what happened next was the saw started going again,hence the tree came crashing down after a few minutes,when his mates saw the sight of him walking toward them drenched in blood and very confused.when he came to in hospital,when asked that all important question why he restarted that saw,his reply was he didnt want one of the boys being killed by a semi felled dangerous tree,also he said his injury was nothing to be concerned about.

1st October 2008, 10:23 PM	#1
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,031	Man Cuts off Arm! Check out this news clip and he calmly walked for help... FOXNews.com - Man Using Chainsaw Calmly Knocks on Neighbor's Door After Chopping Off His Arm - International News \| News of the World \| Middle East News \| Europe News __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

1st October 2008, 11:41 PM	#3
TrevMcRev Mature Tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Posts: 1,605	Re: Man Cuts off Arm! Mmmmm..... Pastries........ Seriously, Thats full on!

2nd October 2008, 12:46 AM	#4
Sean Freeman Monument Status Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,985	Re: Man Cuts off Arm! It never ceases to amaze me the different tolerances each of us has to pain, many years ago when working in a pub in St Albans in the UK there was a farm worker who lost his arm in a pto driven baling machine, he walked 7miles with the arm under his remaining attached limb to a phone to call an ambulance...sadly for him the skills and techniques of micro surgery were not what they are now, he did not get his arm reattached.

2nd October 2008, 07:20 AM	#5
Garry Brockley Bayside Tree Care Brisbane Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Brisbane Aus Posts: 1,649	Re: Man Cuts off Arm! Good old British staunchness, stiff upperlip and all that. its like the monty python Knight sketch off the holy grail all over again "come back here you barstard i'll bite your bloody legs off" Poor sod he was minding his own business just gardening away then __________________ My business:- Brisbane Bayside Tree Care

2nd October 2008, 02:40 PM	#7
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 4,977	Re: Man Cuts off Arm! Poor guy.At least he didn't panic.What kind of pasteries. __________________ Have your say join us today. old schooler

3rd October 2008, 08:21 AM	#9
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Man Cuts off Arm! To have been together for 35years and a new album due this month, Black Ice. AC/DC’s “Black Ice” to Be Released October 20th; Pre-Order Info, Track List Announced : Rolling Stone : Rock and Roll Daily __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

6th May 2009, 10:59 PM	#10
aprentree I'm new here so be nice Join Date: May 2009 Location: norfolk Posts: 3	Re: Man Cuts off Arm! i wounder how he manadged to do it caught the tip of the bar??? im suprised he stayed calmn i personally wouldnt if i lost half my arm

8th May 2009, 01:24 AM	#11
Apocalypsse Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,154	Re: Man Cuts off Arm! He was probably in shock, shock causes a whole range of different things.

30th January 2010, 03:00 AM	#13
Treeson Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 177	Re: Man Cuts off Arm! Great outcome for a very serious incident.

30th January 2010, 03:58 AM	#14
Therrin Former Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bakersfield, Ca Posts: 2,512	Re: Man Cuts off Arm! Wow! Yeah, shock + adrenaline can do strange things to different people. Guy's got some serious reserve though. Props to that. Nasty. I never saw my first up-close chainsaw injury till working as an EMT in the local emergency room. That guy didnt cut his arm off, and wasn't even close to having a "stiff upper lip". This guy got really lucky!

2nd February 2010, 03:55 PM	#15
AWF Sappling Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 19	Re: Man Cuts off Arm! WOW and what a lucky bloke! Its never ceases to amaze me how shock and andrenalin can effect different people... I remember in the early days I had a small accident and apparently on the way to the emergency I received 4 quotes on the mobile and booked 1 job in... dont remember any of it!

2nd February 2010, 06:41 PM	#16
tassiesteve Sappling Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cairns Qld Australia Posts: 13	Re: Man Cuts off Arm! 15 year ago my uncle a professional tree faller was seriously injured and was medivacced out,after a freakish accident whilst felling a huge tree (the ones that take a week to walk around). He was hit between the neck and shoulder causing an injury which could have taken his life.his work mates heard the saw stop but common practice,dont go anywhere until you hear that,tree come down .But what happened next was the saw started going again,hence the tree came crashing down after a few minutes,when his mates saw the sight of him walking toward them drenched in blood and very confused.when he came to in hospital,when asked that all important question why he restarted that saw,his reply was he didnt want one of the boys being killed by a semi felled dangerous tree,also he said his injury was nothing to be concerned about.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode