Chainsaw accident causes near amputation
by Kellen Moore
A 31-year-old man nearly amputated his foot Monday afternoon in
a chainsaw accident.
Watauga Medics and Foscoe first responders were called to a wooded area off Crystal Mountain Road at about 4:15 p.m. The victim had been cutting small trees with a chainsaw when one of the trees snapped back and struck him in the shin, tearing a tangerine-sized hole in his leg, he said Friday.
The man did not lose consciousness despite the wound going deep enough to hit bone, according to Craig Sullivan, director of Watauga Medics.
Another person at the scene helped control the bleeding with a tourniquet, and medics transported the man to Watauga Medical Center.
His condition was unknown as of Tuesday morning.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the victim was injured by the chainsaw itself, but it was in fact the tree being cut that caused his severe injury. The story has been corrected.
Watauga Medics and Foscoe first responders were called to a wooded area off Crystal Mountain Road at about 4:15 p.m. The victim had been cutting small trees with a chainsaw when one of the trees snapped back and struck him in the shin, tearing a tangerine-sized hole in his leg, he said Friday.
The man did not lose consciousness despite the wound going deep enough to hit bone, according to Craig Sullivan, director of Watauga Medics.
Another person at the scene helped control the bleeding with a tourniquet, and medics transported the man to Watauga Medical Center.
His condition was unknown as of Tuesday morning.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the victim was injured by the chainsaw itself, but it was in fact the tree being cut that caused his severe injury. The story has been corrected.