A Colorado man lost both his legs in a horrifying wood chipper accident during his first day on a new job.
John O’Neill, 33, had left rehab and started his first day of tree work on September 23 by loading wood into a chipper in Longmont, The Denver Post reported.
In a freak occurrence, a curved branch being loaded into the chipper got caught in his court-ordered ankle monitor, pulling his legs into the chipper.
John O’Neill, 33, had left rehab and started his first day of tree work on September 23 by loading wood into a chipper
A curved branch being loaded into the chipper got caught in his court-ordered ankle monitor, pulling his legs into the chipper
Emery Street in Longmont where the freak accident happened
‘The pain was very – it was not there almost,’ O’Neill told the Post. ‘I didn’t really feel the pain as much as I knew I was in trouble. It went from a fight for my limb to a fight for my life, very fast.’
The blades cut all the way up above his knee as he screamed for his coworkers to help – but they we wearing ear protectors.
His colleagues were eventually able to pull him out as the blades cut into his mid-thigh.
O’Neill recounted 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 started to lose consciousness.
When police arrived, O’Neill was airlifted to a hospital. Doctors told him later that his heart stopped.
He declined to tell the Post if he was planning on suing the tree care company he worked for or the company who makes the ankle bracelets, but said he believed if the device wasn’t on he could’ve gotten himself free.
His family heard the news and were sent into a panic. His mother Barbara was so shocked that she had to be admitted to the hospital for three days.
But O’Neill remained strong and even got to reconnect with people from his past, including his high school wrestling coach, who O’Neill said was one of the people he thought of when his life flashed before his eyes.
His family heard the news and were sent into a panic. His mother Barbara (far right) was so shocked that she had to be admitted to the hospital for three days
O’Neill declined if he was planning on suing the tree care company he worked for or the company who makes the ankle bracelets, but said he believed if the device wasn’t on he could’ve gotten himself free (stock image)
The avid rock climber and hiker plans to get prosthetics and stay involved with the nonprofit he got connected to through his time in rehab.
‘I got to reconnect with him and tell him how much he meant to me and how he basically saved my life,’ O’Neill said.
His brother, Aidan O’Neill, posted on Facebook late last month that John had multiple surgeries and was beginning his recovery.
‘We are incredibly grateful that he survived, and he’s doing well, surrounded by family and friends in Colorado,’ Aidan wrote.
O’Neill’s friend, Garrett Safir, who launched a GoFundMe campaign to help with his recovery, wrote that his survival was ‘beyond a miracle’
‘Our friend has always been pretty reckless and living life on the edge.
‘All while doing so, being a warrior in life.’
The avid rock climber and hiker plans to get prosthetics and stay involved with the nonprofit he got connected to through his time in rehab.
‘That’s the kind of goals I’m setting for myself to be right back there and I’m not going to listen to anyone who tells 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 enjoyed a challenge.’
