A Colorado man lost both legs in a horrific wood chipper accident during his first day at a new job.
John O’Neill, 33, had gotten out of rehab and began his first day of tree work on Sept. 23 loading wood into a chipper in Longmont. Denver Post reported.
In a strange occurrence, a curved branch being loaded into the chipper became caught in the court-ordered ankle monitor, pushing his legs into the chipper.
John O’Neill, 33, had left rehab and began his first day of tree work on Sept. 23 loading wood into a chipper.
A curved branch being loaded into the chipper became caught in the court-ordered ankle monitor, causing his legs to enter the chipper.
Emery Street in Longmont where the freak accident occurred
“The pain was very… almost non-existent,” O’Neill told the Post. ‘I didn’t really feel as much pain as I knew I was in trouble. “It went from a fight for my limb to a fight for my life, very quickly.”
The blades cut up to above his knee as he screamed for help to his co-workers, but they were wearing ear protection.
His colleagues were finally able to pull him out when the blades sliced through the middle of his thigh.
O’Neill said that skin, bones, arteries, muscle tissue and a lot of blood were visible.
He was able to stay lucid, but as he tried to slow his rapidly beating heart, he began to lose consciousness.
When police arrived, O’Neill was airlifted to a hospital. Doctors later told him that his heart had stopped.
He declined to tell the Post whether he planned to sue the tree care company he worked for or the company that makes the ankle bracelets, but said he believed that if the device was not on it could have been released.
His family heard the news and panicked. His mother, Barbara, was so shocked that she had to be admitted to the hospital for three days.
But O’Neill stayed strong and even managed to reconnect with people from his past, including his high school wrestling coach, who O’Neill said was one of the people he thought about when his life passed. before your eyes.
His family heard the news and panicked. His mother, Barbara (far right), was so shocked that she had to be admitted to the hospital for three days.
O’Neill declined to say whether he planned to sue the tree care company he worked for or the company that makes the anklets, but said he believed that if the device was not on it could have been released (file image).
The avid climber and hiker plans to get prosthetics and stay involved with the nonprofit he connected with during his time in rehab.
“I had to reconnect with him and tell him how much he meant to me and how he basically saved my life,” O’Neill said.
The avid climber and hiker plans to get prosthetics and stay involved with the nonprofit he connected with during his time in rehab.
“Those are the kind of goals I’m setting to get back there and I’m not going to listen to anyone tell me that’s impossible,” O’Neill said. “I’m someone who can do things I’ve never done before.”
He described the situation as “uncharted territory” and said: “I can’t wait to dive into it because I feel like life is going to be more exciting.” I’ve always liked challenges.’
