A TREE surgeon who almost beheaded himself in a horrific chainsaw accident, has spoken out about how he is “lucky to be alive” after he miraculously escaped death by just three minutes.
Tom Connelly, who lives in Clophill, cut through more than a third of his neck in the freak accident that took place on April 14 when he lost his footing while working up a tree in Cambridgeshire.
He was cutting a branch 50ft up a tree when he slipped onto the 12-inch blade, slashing his neck and left arm. His colleagues rushed to his aid and emergency services were called out along with air ambulance charity Magpas Helimedix.
The 21-year-old said: ““It was an every day job that I had done hundreds of times before.
“But I was half way through cutting the tree trunk when my foot slipped and I rolled into the chain saw.
“I was left dangling in the air and I could see blood dripping from my arm. I went into shock, but the adrenalin kicked in so I didn’t actually feel any pain.”
He added: “I screamed for help and my colleagues quickly got me out of the tree.
“My friend Rob told me to put my hand across my throat and hold on to my head and it was then I realised my neck was bleeding too.
“I later realised I’d nearly cut my head off, so I am incredibly lucky to be here today.”
Tom severed nearly every blood vessel in his neck and doctors said he was just 1mm away from cutting through his carotid artery, which would have killed him.
He lost an incredible three litres of blood and surgeons say he would have bled to death within three minutes if his work colleagues and the Magpas team had not treated him so quickly.
Tom, who works as a tree surgeon contracting for The BTS Group based in Suffolk, wanted to express his thanks to everyone who helped save his life.
He said: “It’s only thanks to my colleagues, the Magpas team and the medics at Addenbrooke’s Hospital that I am alive and I want to say a huge thank you.”
After the accident Tom spent the next five days undergoing emergency surgery and operations. And amazingly after five weeks he returned to work on light duties. It is hoped that his arm will heal over the next couple of months and Tom hopes to be back at work full-time soon.
He said: “It hasn’t put me off. I want to get back, it’s my job and I love it.”