The
21-year-old Maryland native, who has been living in Pittsburgh since January,
was sawing down a Scotch pine tree 20 feet above the ground when he angled his
saw to avoid hitting power lines ahead and the power tool kicked back and sent
the blade two inches into his neck.
Via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The saw kickback
“nicked my shoulder and chewed into my neck,” Mr. Valentine said Tuesday from
his hospital bed at Allegheny General Hospital. “It was the worst pain you
could ever imagine
The
blade and chain were embedded 2 inches deep into the neck muscle just above the
collarbone, raising concern whether it had damaged the carotid artery, the
major artery in the neck to the head. When damaged or severed, it quickly can
cause a person to bleed to death.
So
the race began shortly after the 2:30 p.m. accident, which involved efforts
from three coworkers, seven paramedics, along with police officers and medical
officials, all of them at the top of their game, officials said.
